General

Picture: Private
- We have lost a big personality
Date: 6/2/2020 10:20 AM
Published by : Rasmus Bech(BEC)

Badminton Europe President, Peter Tarcala, mourns the death of Janez Kocijančič.

The European Olympic Committees (EOC) Monday announced the passing of its President, Janez Kocijančič. The President passed away at the age of 78, following a courageous battle against a sudden and severe disease.


Kocijančič was elected in November 2017 after four years as Vice President. He joined the EOC in 2005 as a Member of the Executive Committee.


Badminton Europe President Peter Tarcala met President Kocijančič at multiple occasions, and Tarcala only have good things to say about the former EOC President  of EOC.

- European sport is losing a big personality, Peter Tarcala said.

- I liked his leadership approach and directions.

Memorable night in 2017
In 2017 at the BEC Awards Gala Peter Tarcala met the EOC President for the first time and that is still a night to remember for the current BEC President.

- It was a special night for me and for Badminton Europe. At the Gala evening in Prague Kocijančič announced that badminton was chosen as one of the sports for the European Games in Minsk in 2019. It is one of the most important decisions made for our sport in the last ten years, Tarcala said.

As newly elected President Peter Tarcala met the EOC President at the European Games 2019 and again at the EOC General Assembly in Warsaw, Poland, in October. At this Assembly badminton was selected to be part of the European Youth Olympic Festival which will take place in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, from 24-30 July 2022.

- EOC and President Kocijančič have been important to Badminton Europe and EOC continues to be one of our closest partners. Being part of the European family is crucial for us and that is also one of the reasons why I am sad to know that Kocijančič will no longer will be leading the major governing body of European sport, Tarcala stated.

A man of sport
Kocijančič previously served as President of the National Olympic Committee of Slovenia (1991-2014), President of the Slovenian Ski Association (1974-1984) and President of the Yugoslav Ski Association (1984-1988). He was also a Member of the Council of the International Ski Federation (FIS) since 1981 and its Vice President since 2010.


Since 2017, he was also the Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) for Europe.


During his term as President, Kocijančič oversaw the successful staging in 2019 of the 2nd edition of the European Games in Minsk and European Youth Olympic Festivals (EYOF) in Baku and Sarajevo & East Sarajevo.


Badminton Europe would like to express its deepest sympathies to Janez Kocijančič’ family.


©badmintoneurope.com. All rights reserved.

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