ECM statement on passing of European Athletics President & EC2022 Chair Svein Arne Hansen

European Championships Management is deeply saddened by the death of Svein Arne Hansen, President of European Athletics and Chair of the European Championships 2022 Board.

European Athletics reported the sad news that Svein Arne passed away at the age of 74 on Saturday 20 June (https://www.european-athletics.org/news/article=european-athletics-president-svein-arne-hansen-dies/index.html). He died in Oslo after failing to recover from a serious cerebrovascular accident, commonly known as a stroke, that he suffered while at home during the evening of Sunday 15 March.

ECM gave the following statement on Saturday: “European sport has lost an inspirational leader today. ECM staff had the honour and privilege to have known Svein Arne for many years before he became President of European Athletics in 2015 and Chairman of the Board for the inaugural multi-sport European Championships in 2018.  Svein Arne brought an incredible energy, passion and humour to everything he did and was a formidable force for positive change in the world of sport.  His friendly, approachable and pragmatic approach was always focused on what was best for the athletes and for his sport. ECM sends its deepest condolences to the Hansen family and friends at this sad time.”

President Hansen was the Co-Chair of the European Championships Glasgow/Berlin 2018 Board, and then the Chair of the European Championships 2022 Board, consisting of the participating European Federations, Host City Munich, ECM and the European Broadcasting Union, that governs the organisation of the multisport European Championships that will take place in August 2022.