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
editRuhee, 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
editMauritius 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
editRam Ruhee died on October 21, 2008,[2] at the age of 81 after a long illness.
References
edit- ^ 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.