The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has expressed sadness at the death of Alpha Ibrahim Diallo, an IOC Honorary Member in Guinea.
The [link id=”335″ tax=”post_tag” text=”IOC”], in a statement released today, expresses its deepest sympathies to Mr Diallo’s family after learning of his passing at the age of 82.
Mr Diallo, a graduate in journalism and civil administration, joined the IOC in 1994. He was a member of the Executive Board from 2003 to 2006 and also served on the following commissions: Sport for All (1995), Radio and Television since 1996, IOC 2000 (1999), Olympic Solidarity (2002-2006) and International Relations since 2002. He became an Honorary Member in 2012.
He enjoyed playing football and basketball, and it was his passion for sport that led to his long career serving the Olympic Movement at home and abroad. During his 15 years at the head of the NOC of Guinea, he played a key role in supporting athletes and in promoting the values of physical activity in his country.
On a continental level, Diallo was a Member of the ANOCA Executive Committee from 1986 to 1990, before becoming President from 2001 to 2005. He also served as a member of the ANOC Executive Committee before becoming its Vice-President in 2001.
Mr Diallo led a busy diplomatic career as an ambassador, a role that saw him posted in Algiers, Rabat and Tunis, Cairo and the Middle East.
He then held a number of positions within the Guinean Government as Directeur de Cabinet to the Prime Minister (1975-1982), Secretary General of the Communications Ministry (1992-1994) and Minister of Communications and Culture since 1997.
He was also an Ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations in New York from 1983 to 1985.
A man of culture, Diallo was the founding President of the African National Broadcasting and Television Union (URTNA) and Chairman of the first Pan-African Cultural Festival held in Algiers in 1969.
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Yomog Meje is a former Nigerian junior athlete and the Associate editor at Athletics Africa.
