Patrick Baumann during an IOC Evaluation Commission meeting.
photo: Mike Blake / Reuters
Long-time IOC Member Patrick Baumann passed away on Saturday during the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was only 51.
“We were extremely shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of our dear colleague Patrick Baumann,” said IIHF President René Fasel.
“Baumann embodied the best values of the Olympic Movement and did so much for the sport of basketball and for FIBA. His passion and dedication to growing FIBA will serve as a benchmark for others to follow well into the future.
“In his role with the IOC, he was closely involved with building the Youth Olympic Games, and also made important contributions to some of the biggest organizations dedicated to international sport. Baumann’s legacy will be not only the exceptional work he did for the game of basketball, but also his leadership and love for sport which he shared with the world. He was indeed a visionary and a great colleague, and will truly be missed.”
The former basketball player, coach and referee has been the Secretary General of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) since 2002 and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 2007 where he served as Chairman of the Evaluation Commission for the 2024 Olympics, Vice-Chair of the Coordination Commission for the 2024 Olympics and Chairman of the Coordination Commission for Los Angeles 2028.
In winter sports the Swiss brought in his valuable experience as Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games that will take place in Lausanne, Switzerland.
A lawyer by profession, Baumann most recently also acted as President of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and of SportAccord, and was an Executive Committee member of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and of Swiss Olympic.
Baumann is survived by his wife and two children.
“We were extremely shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of our dear colleague Patrick Baumann,” said IIHF President René Fasel.
“Baumann embodied the best values of the Olympic Movement and did so much for the sport of basketball and for FIBA. His passion and dedication to growing FIBA will serve as a benchmark for others to follow well into the future.
“In his role with the IOC, he was closely involved with building the Youth Olympic Games, and also made important contributions to some of the biggest organizations dedicated to international sport. Baumann’s legacy will be not only the exceptional work he did for the game of basketball, but also his leadership and love for sport which he shared with the world. He was indeed a visionary and a great colleague, and will truly be missed.”
The former basketball player, coach and referee has been the Secretary General of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) since 2002 and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 2007 where he served as Chairman of the Evaluation Commission for the 2024 Olympics, Vice-Chair of the Coordination Commission for the 2024 Olympics and Chairman of the Coordination Commission for Los Angeles 2028.
In winter sports the Swiss brought in his valuable experience as Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games that will take place in Lausanne, Switzerland.
A lawyer by profession, Baumann most recently also acted as President of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and of SportAccord, and was an Executive Committee member of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and of Swiss Olympic.
Baumann is survived by his wife and two children.