Sir Craig Reedie died on the age of 84 on Monday, April 6, 2026. He served because the chairman of the British Olympic Affiliation (BOA) for over a decade and later turned the president of the World Anti-Doping Company (WADA). Reedie was born in Stirling, Scotland, on Might 6, 1941. He spent his lengthy profession bettering the Olympic Video games and combating for truthful, clear sports activities.
The British Olympic Affiliation confirmed his passing by way of a publish on X, noting his huge impression on the Olympic motion. Reedie performed a significant function in bringing the 2012 Olympic Video games to London and helped make badminton an official Olympic sport.
The British Olympic Affiliation are saddened to listen to concerning the passing of Sir Craig Reedie.
Reedie served because the chairman of the BOA between 1992 and 2005, receiving a knighthood for providers to sport in 2006.
Learn extra right here: https://t.co/KYw8NiXSwb pic.twitter.com/UTFmJpaGrJ
— Workforce GB (@TeamGB) April 6, 2026
A Life Devoted to Worldwide Sport
Sir Craig Reedie was a aggressive athlete when he began his journey in sports activities. He performed badminton at a excessive stage in the course of the Nineteen Sixties. He turned a nationwide doubles champion and represented Nice Britain in worldwide matches. Nonetheless, when he was nonetheless a participant, badminton was not performed within the Olympics. He ultimately began to handle sports activities organizations. He first led the Scottish Badminton Union and moved to the world of worldwide sports activities.
In 1981, he turned the president of the Worldwide Badminton Federation. He held this function till 1984. Throughout his management, he campaigned arduous to get badminton into the Olympic Video games. His efforts succeeded when the primary Olympic medals for badminton have been awarded on the Barcelona Video games in 1992. Consequently, hundreds of thousands of followers now watch badminton on the Olympics due to his early work.
Main the British Olympic Affiliation
Reedie turned the chairman of the British Olympic Affiliation in 1992. He led the BOA for 13 years, serving till 2005. This era was crucial for sports activities in the UK. In the meantime, Reedie turned a member of the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1994. He was the primary particular person from Britain to take a seat on the IOC board since 1961.
Certainly one of his greatest achievements was serving to London win the bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Video games. He labored intently with Sebastian Coe to persuade the world that London was your best option for the occasion. After London received the bid, Reedie served as a director on the London 2012 Organizing Committee. Moreover, he watched as the town efficiently hosted the Video games, which introduced pleasure to your complete nation.
Honors and International Recognition
The UK and the worldwide group acknowledged Reedie’s arduous work many instances. He was appointed as a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1999.Â
In 2006, he acquired a knighthood for his providers to sport. Later, in 2018, he was awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE). The GBE is the rarest and highest honor an individual can obtain within the UK.
Moreover, the Worldwide Olympic Committee honored him with the Olympic Order in 2023. This award celebrated his lifelong service to the Olympic motion.
Household and Tributes
Sir Craig Reedie is survived by his spouse, Girl Rosemary, his kids Colin and Catriona, and his grandchildren. Sebastian Coe described Rosemary and Craig as a powerhouse couple in international sports activities. Coe, the president of World Athletics, known as Reedie a mentor and a distinguished elder statesman. Coe said that Reedie was the epitome of a gentleman. He additionally talked about that Reedie was a loyal pal who at all times spoke his thoughts clearly.
Terribly unhappy information to listen to about Sir Craig Reedie and my ideas are initially together with his beloved spouse, Girl Rosemary, his kids Colin and Catriona, and his grandchildren.
Rosemary and Craig have been a powerhouse couple in international sport. They have been participating, hospitable, type… pic.twitter.com/K56Yl5lLqi
— Seb Coe (@sebcoe) April 6, 2026
Katherine Grainger, the present chair of the BOA, additionally praised him. She mentioned that anybody who labored in Olympic sports activities possible knew Sir Craig. Grainger remembered him as somebody who at all times had a phrase of encouragement for workers and athletes alike.Â
She famous that he noticed each the great and the dangerous of the sporting system however by no means misplaced his love for the Olympics. WADA President Witold Bańka added that Reedie was a real gentleman and clear sport champion.
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