October 19, 2006 – Marc Hodler, who served the International Ski Federation as President for 47 years, died Wednesday. He was 87. Hodler, who was president of the International Ski Federation from 1951 to 1998 and IOC Member from 1963, died in Bern, Switzerland.

“Marc was a real friend to Canadian skiing and in particular the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary,” said Alpine Canada Alpin President, Ken Read. “At a time when Calgary was not well known in the Olympic sport world, he saw the volunteer spirit and the dynamic drive of the 1988 Olympic bid and backed Calgary over more established cities of Cortina (Italy) and Falun (Sweden). He encouraged many athletes, to remain involved with our sport past their competitive careers and I’m grateful that he personally gave me many opportunities to represent the FIS and IOC. On behalf of the entire Canadian ski racing family, may I extend our sympathies to the Hodler family.”

Hodler played a crucial role in the development of alpine skiing and the Winter Olympics. He was the first city dweller to make Switzerland’s national alpine ski team, which had previously been dominated by skiers from mountainous areas. Hodler joined the team as a teenager, but had a serious accident while training for the 1938 World Championships that effectively ended his career. He never competed in an Olympics. Instead, he turned to coaching, leading the Swiss team from 1939 to 1948.

Hodler, a lawyer, was an IOC vice president from 1993 to 1997 and served four separate terms on the rule-making executive board. Hodler was the first official to use the word “bribe” to describe the methods used by Salt Lake City to win the vote for the 2002 Games. At the time of his death, Hodler was the second-longest-serving IOC member after Brazil’s Joao Havelange. Over his 43-year career as an Olympic administrator, Hodler chaired the IOC commissions coordinating the Winter Games in Albertville (1992), Lillehammer (1994), Nagano (1998) and Salt Lake City. He also was chairman of the IOC finance commission from 1988-2002.

Hodler is survived by his wife, Anna Rosa, and two sons, Beat and Martin.