For many years, Baron Eduard von Falz-Fein was a "sports diplomat" who established
and cultivated many diverse international relationships for Liechtenstein sports. He rendered particularly
outstanding services for the Olympic movement in Liechtenstein. Using his professional and family ties
to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), he was the driving force when Liechtenstein, which was
not a member of the IOC, participated in the Olympic Games for the first time. An Olympic Committee
was founded in Liechtenstein a year before in 1935, where Baron von Falz-Fein served as Vice President.
According
to Eduard von Falz-Fein, the results were modest the first few times Liechtenstein participated in the
Olympics, but he always believed that even a small country could achieve success through hard work and
luck. Today we know that his perseverance has proven to be correct: The gold, silver, and bronze medals
that Liechtenstein has won at the Olympics demonstrate this. Baron von Falz-Fein has always been particularly
committed to the Olympic movement and idea: "Taking part is everything!" This is underscored
in a most impressive way by the fact that he participated in 16 Olympic Games in various functions!
His
second athletic passion was for cycling. As a Parisian cycling champion and acquaintance of many European
sports stars, Eduard von Falz-Fein has dedicated himself to Liechtenstein cycling since 1951. In 1951
and from 1953 to 1973, he was President of the Liechtenstein Cycling Association, and he supported many
cycling talents during that time. Through his great efforts and diplomatic skills at the international
level, he was repeatedly able to delegate Liechtenstein cyclists to the various World Championships,
even though the Liechtenstein Cycling Association was not yet a member of the International Cycling
Union (UCI). In 1973, he negotiated a "48 hour fast-track admission" of the Liechtenstein
Cycling Association to the International Cycling Union, which also made it possible for Roman Hermann
to race at the World Champion in Mendrisio. To this day, he continues to put his entire heart into his
commitment to youth and cycling. |
Baron
Eduard von Falz-Fein:
a "sports diplomat" who
initiated the
Olympic
movement in Liechtenstein
|
