Time of honours for Ron Froehlich
FIG President Prof. Bruno Grandi (ITA) paid tribute to Froehlich during the FIG Council meeting in Kuwait City (KUW) on Friday, congratulating him for his nomination and expressing his gratitude for his dedication in fulfilling his huge tasks at FIG.
Tribute to Ron Froehlich
In conjunction with its Statutory General Assembly held in Belek (TUR) last month, the International World Games Association (IWGA) made outgoing President Ron Froehlich (USA) its Life Honorary President. This award came as recognition of an exemplary career and concludes his functions at the head of the IWGA he has been occupying since 1992.
Yet, 75-year old Ron Froehlich shall not quit the forefront of the international sports scene since he will pursue his mandate as Auditor and Referrer at the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). President Prof. Bruno Grandi (ITA) paid tribute to Froehlich during the FIG Council meeting in Kuwait City (KUW) on Friday, congratulating him for his nomination and expressing his gratitude for his dedication in fulfilling his huge tasks at FIG.
Portrait
Ron Froehlich has already dedicated more than half a century of his active life to sport and sports administration. This successful path is acknowledged by the entire sports community and his experience as well as his authority made him a major international referrer.
From his birth in January 1939 in South Africa to the south of the United States where he is now established, Ron Froehlich led an outstanding professional career by making the best use of his managing talents in the financial and sports equipment circles.
In parallel to his daily activities associated with the relevant duties and liabilities, Ron committed himself to sport and sports management. He first acted as a volunteer in 1962 in Johannesburg where he worked as the treasurer of the South African Amateur Trampoline Federation. Step by step, jump by jump he went up the hierarchy of the discipline first at the national level and then at the international level when he was elected President of the FIT in 1990.
The Olympic dream
In his head and in his heart also, Ron secretly dreamt of seeing his discipline, Trampoline, shines at the peak of the Mount Olympus. A dream, not to say an utopia knowing the reluctance, to say the least, of the IOC to welcome new disciplines on its programme. These perspectives did not prevent him from defining a goal and a strategy and following his idea with stubbornness, discretion and, most notably, patience and rare efficiency.
On 22 September 2000 at 8.40 pm, it is a Ron Froehlich moved with emotion as can be imagined who expressed his overwhelming sense of joy. He awarded with joy-filled eyes the first Olympic medal of the history of Trampoline to Irina Karavaea under the applause and cheering of the audience of the Sydney SuperDome entirely committed to this new discipline.
An exemplary career
His actions, his achievements, his strict strategy and the total abnegation conferred to him by his statute of volunteer opened to Ron Froehlich other doors leading to further responsibilities.
He was elected President of the International World Games Association in 1992 after having gone up all the hierarchical steps. The same year, he was elected as a member of the Executive Committee of AGFIS (General Association of International Sports Federations), renamed today Sportaccord. In 1997, he chaired the ARISF, the Association of International Federations of recognised sports. In 2001, he has been elected to the presidency of «USA Gymnastics» Council and joining USOC (the USA NOC).
Today, in his quality of FIG Auditor Ron Froehlich regularly and actively takes part in the life of international gymnastics by attending the Presidential Commission. He is still a member of the IOC Olympic Programme Commission.