Istvan Gyulai (HUN) outside IAAF HQ in Monaco (© IAAF)
Moscow, RussiaThe IAAF regrets to announce that Istvan Gyulai, who has been General Secretary since 1991, passed away in the early hours of this morning. He was 62 years old.
“It is with deep regret that I have to announce the death of a friend and valued colleague,” said IAAF President Lamine Diack this morning.
“Istvan devoted his entire life to our sport. As a young man, he was an international athlete in the 400m and then became Head of Sport for Hungarian TV, combining that career with important positions in Hungarian and international sport. He was a member of the IAAF Council from 1984 until 2001, and was appointed IAAF General Secretary in 1991, working tirelessly and with great imagination for the cause of world athletics.
"His colleagues on the Council and in our Member Federations, as well as all the members of IAAF staff, will sadly miss his friendly manner, his intelligence and his energy. I also believe that Istvan was extremely courageous in the face of a cruel illness, continuing to work as hard as ever, without complaint, until the end. I would like to send our deepest condolences to his wife Krisztina, his sons Miklos and Marton and his daughters Katalin and Julia.”
The funeral of Istvan Gyulai, will be held on Wednesday 22 March 2006, at 14:00, at Pesterzsébeti Temetõ, - 1201 Budapest, Temetõ sor 1.
The funeral will be preceded by a mass, at 10:00, at Szent Istvan Bazilika - V.ker, Szent Istvan ter 1, in Budapest.
A Memorial Service was held on Wednesday 15 March 2006, at St. Charles Church, Avenue St. Charles, Monaco, at which the life and career of Istvan Gyulai was honoured by the family and the IAAF.
Date of Birth
21 March 1943
Nationality
Hungarian
Languages
Hungarian, English, German, French, Russian
Education
ELTE University Budapest - Arts Faculty - Modern Languages and Literature
Profession
Television Commentator
Formerly Head of Sport of Hungarian Television (MTV)
Posts held within the IAAF
IAAF Council Member 1984 - 2001
IAAF General Secretary 1991 - 2006
Press Commission Chairman - 1991 -2003
Competitive sports career
23 times Hungarian Champion in short distances
1961-1969 Member of National Team
Gold medal, 4x100m, Universiade, Porto Alegre 1963
Competed in Olympic Games, Tokyo 1964
Silver medal, 4x400m, Universiade, Budapest 1965
Offices in sport
2001
Honorary Life President of the Hungarian Athletics Federation
1980 -
Member of National Council
1977 - 1989
Deputy General Secretary of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS)
1989 - 1992
General Secretary of AIPS
1991 - 2001
Vice-President of Hungarian Athletics Federation
IAAF