Ram Ruhee (October 12, 1927 – October 21, 2008) was a Mauritian former International Olympic Committee member and FIFA executive. Ruhee founded the Mauritius National Olympic Committee and remained it Secretary General until his death in 2008. [1]
Early years
Ruhee, born in Port Louis and former teacher, founded the first division soccer club Cadets Club in Mauritius in 1948. [1] He continued to manage the team after its founding. [1] He later founded the Mauritius National Olympic Committee in 1971 and remained its Secretary General until his death in 2008. [1]
Career
Mauritius first competed in the Olympics during the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and has subsequently competed in every Summer Olympics Game since. [1] The country's first Olympic Medal was won during the 2008 Beijing Olympics by Bruno Julie. The IOC would later commend Ruhee in statement following his death saying, "(He) played a key role in promoting the values of sport to the youth in his country." [1]
Ruhee served as a member of the International Olympic Committee from 1988 until 2007. [1] He was investigated in 1999 as part of the 2002 Winter Olympic bid scandal. [1] However, Ruhee was completely exonerated and cleared of any wrongdoing in the scandal. [1] He was awarded the Olympic Order of Merit at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. [2]
Ruhee also served on the FIFA executive committee from 1992 until 1998. [2] He was also a member of the FIFA finance committee and the FIFA World Cup Organising Committee. [2]
Death
Ram Ruhee died on October 21, 2008, [2] at the age of 81 after a long illness.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Former IOC member and FIFA executive Ram Ruhee dies at the age of 81". Canadian Press. Google News. 2008-10-22. Retrieved 2008-10-26.[ dead link]
- ^ a b c d "FIFA President mourns death of Ram Ruhee". FIFA. 2008-10-22. Archived from the original on October 23, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-26.