Sir Craig Reedie, Key London 2012 Olympics Figure And Former Boa Chair, Dies Aged 84

Sir Craig Reedie, a elephantine of nan Olympic movement, who served arsenic chair of nan British Olympic Association for much than a decade and was instrumental successful bringing nan Games to London successful 2012, has died astatine nan property of 84.

Tributes person poured successful for nan Scots-born Reedie, who was besides president of nan World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) erstwhile Russia was recovered blameworthy of state-sponsored doping crossed “a immense majority” of wintertime and summertime sports, including astatine nan 2014 Sochi Olympics. During this tumultuous period, Reedie and Wada recommended that Russia beryllium banned from nan 2016 Rio Games – a telephone that was yet rejected by nan International Olympic Committee.

Reedie was vice-president of nan IOC during portion of his Wada tenure and a erstwhile badminton competitor who led nan run for its Olympic inclusion starting astatine Barcelona ‘92.

Sebastian Coe, nan World Athletics president, who led nan organising committee for nan London Games connected whose committee Reedie sat, said: “I americium devastated for his family. Craig was my mentor, wise counsel, passionate advisor, and awesome friend. He was nan distinguished elder statesman pinch a reservoir of Olympic knowledge and acquisition which he shared willingly and to awesome effect.

“Without Craig and his activity of nan British Olympic Association, we whitethorn ne'er person won nan correct to big London 2012. Craig was a sportsman astatine heart, but he had nan mind and tenacity of a politician. He was adjacent parts opinionated, wise, canny, and, astir of all, loyal to those who legitimately wanted to service sport. The epitome of a gentleman.”

Reedie represented Great Britain successful badminton successful nan 1960s earlier venturing into sports administration, opening pinch nan Scottish Badminton Union. In 1981 he was elected International Badminton Federation president, becoming BOA chair successful 1992 and joining nan IOC 2 years later. He served arsenic vice-president connected nan IOC from 2012 to 2016, a play which overlapped pinch his presidency of Wada.

Sir Craig Reedie became chair of nan British Olympic Association successful 1992. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Dame Katherine Grainger, nan existent BOA chair, praised his conflict against doping and his support for nan Olympic activity and its competitors.

“If you person worked successful Olympic sport, past it’s highly apt that you would person known Sir Craig Reedie,” Grainger said. “How fortunate we each were.

“Whether he was rubbing shoulders pinch nan higher echelons of nan IOC membership, aliases making his measurement astir nan British Olympic Association’s offices to chat pinch unit members, he was ne'er short of a connection of encouragement, aliases immoderate gentle wise counsel.

“Few knew nan Olympic activity amended and less still served it pinch specified distinction. His dedicated work to nan BOA, to nan IOC and to Wada is notable.

“He ever fought difficult for Olympic sport, and fought harder still for cleanable sport. In doing truthful he saw nan bully and, inevitably, nan bad of our sporting system. It was nan measurement of Craig that it ne'er diminished his emotion of athletics and nan Olympic activity successful particular.

“Craig awarded maine immoderate of my Olympic medals, truthful I had nan privilege of being consoled and congratulated by him, and knowing he understood precisely what those moments meant.

“I only dream Lady Rosemary and family tin beryllium comforted by nan warmth and affection pinch which we will clasp Sir Craig’s representation by.”