ATHENS – Christos Chatziathanasiou, the President of Greece’s IIHF member, the Hellenic Ice Sports Federation, passed away on Saturday morning at the age of 60.

The businessman who owned an ice rink in Athens founded the Hellenic Ice Sports Federation in 1986 and had been its President ever since.

Chatziathanasiou was also a member of the Hellenic Olympic Committee where he chaired the Ethic Committee.

As a delegate he participated in numerous congresses not only of the International Ice Hockey Federation, but also of the International Luge Federation, where he chaired the Control Commission, the International Skating Union, the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, and the World Curling Federation.

He also led the Greek bobsleigh and luge teams at the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer.

During his 25 years of presidency, ice hockey was introduced in Greece and the men’s national team participated for the first time in the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship program in 1992.

After a break of several years due to lack of ice rinks in the country, the national championship was re-launched in the late 2000s. The Greek men’s national team staged its comeback in 2008 at Division III level and has participated in the World Championship program every year since. The country is currently ranked 44th in the IIHF Men’s World Ranking.

Christos Chatziathanasiou is survived by his daughter Anna, a former figure skater.

MARTIN MERK