ANOC mourns loss of EOC President and ANOC Vice President Janez Kocijancic

ANOC is deeply saddened to learn that European Olympic Committees (EOC) President and ANOC Vice President Janez Kocijančič has passed away at the age of 78.

Kocijančič was a longstanding member of the NOC family and made a significant contribution to the development of sport in Slovenia, Europe and around the world.

Kocijančič was EOC President from 2017, having served as acting President the year before, and Vice-President from 2013 to 2016. He was a member of the ANOC Executive Council before becoming ANOC Vice-President in 2017. He was President of the Slovenian Olympic Committee between 1991 and 2014.

Away from the NOC family, Kocijančič was a member of the International Ski Federation (FIS) Executive Board from 1981 and Vice-President from 2010.

Acting ANOC President Robin Mitchell said:

"Janez was a deeply respected member of the NOC family and the Olympic Movement as a whole. His passing is a great loss to all those who knew him and all those who had the privilege of working with him over his long and decorated career. His immense contribution to the Olympic Movement will be his lasting legacy and ensure that he lives long in the memory of all of us."

ANOC Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg added:

"I have been fortunate to be able to call Janez a very close friend for many years and so this news is deeply saddening for me, as it is for the many friends that he had throughout the Olympic Movement. We worked together for a long time and as President of EOC and Vice-President of ANOC, it was clear how dedicated he was to promoting the interests of NOCs and their athletes. He was always ready to speak up for what he believed in and his passion and commitment will be sorely missed by all of us. Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this very difficult time."

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