The German Democratic Republicand Olympism

“Our country expresses its love and gratitude to Pierre de Coubertin, the creatorof the great and lasting festival dedicated to the youth of all countries and to thepreservation of peace—the modern Olympic Games.”

Dr. Heinz Schöbel, 1969

GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC(GDR)

108,178 square kilometres.17,000,000 inhabitants (approximately).

NATIONALES OLYMPISCHES KOMITEEDER DEUTSCHEN DEMOKRATISCHENREPUBLIK (NOK der DDR)

National Olympic Committee of theGDR (GDR NOC).Founded on 22nd April 1951.President in office: Manfred Ewald*.Secretary General in office: GüntherHeinze*.Address: 108 Berlin, Behrenstrasse40/41.Telephone: 21.24.987.Cable: NAOLYMKO Berlin.

* See biographical notes.

Role of the NOC

The primary task of the GDR NOC isto lead its teams taking part in theOlympic Games and to co-operatewith all the institutions and organisa-tions concerned at national and inter-national level, particularly the Interna-tional Olympic Committee, the Orga-nising Committees for the Games andthe German Sports and GymnasticsUnion (DTSB) of the GDR.

It is also responsible for:

—

— collaborating actively in the solu-tion of problems expressed by theIOC or raised in the internationalOlympic movement;

safeguarding and propagating theOlympic ideas in the spirit of Cou-bertin, that is the spirit of huma-nism, rapprochement of peoples,peace and physical culture deve-loped for the whole population;

— co-operating with the education ofthe GDR youth to form strong cha-racter, the generally cultured andbalanced man physically, intellec-tually and morally, the loyal citi-zen;

— defending the interests of GDRathletes and representing themwithin the international Olympicmovement;

— maintaining relations of mutual res-pect with the NOCs of othercountries.

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Creation and development

On the day of the committee’s founda-tion, 19 Presidents of national federa-tions of recognised Olympic sportswere members of the NOC, whereastoday the number has increased to 23.

Founded on 22nd April 1951 at BerlinTown Hall, the GDR NOC was given“provisional” recognition by the IOCat its 50th Session held in Paris in1955. After participating at the 1956,1960 and 1964 Games in the combinedteams of the two German States, itobtained the right to delegate its ownteams at the IOC Session in Madridin 1965. The 67th Session in Mexicogranted it complete recognition, takingeffect from 1st November 1968, as asovereign NOC for the German Demo-cratic Republic.

Successive Presidents of the GDR NOC

1951-1955: Kurt Edel.1955-1973: Dr. Heinz Schöbel*.Since 1973: Manfred Ewald*.

IOC members for the GDR

1. Dr. Heinz Schöbel*, since 1966.

Dr. Heinz Schöbel, member of the IOC (onthe right) congratulates Helmut Behrendt,for a long time Secretary General of theNOC of the GDR. Opposite, Mr. ManfredEwald, present President of the NOC.

Harry Glass

Facing Mr. Manfred Ewald, President of theNOC of the GDR, is Mr. Erich Honecker,First Secretary of the Central Committee ofthe Socialist Unity Party of Germany. Oppo-site is the pole-vaulter Wolfgang Nordwig.

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• Date of first participation: 1956.

At the Vllth Winter Games in Cortinad’Ampezzo, 16 GDR competitors, ofwhom three were women, made theirOlympic entrance. Harry Glass becamethe first GDR athlete to win an Olym-pic medal by coming third in thespecial jumping event.

THE GDR AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Representation of the GDR at the Olympic Gamesfrom 1956 to 1972¹

¹• The figures in brakects represent the number of women included in the first figure.Not included on the programme.

1956 16(5) 3 6 1

1960 46(12) 4 6 6 12 2 10(6) 6

1964 58(18) 5 6 2 2 2 20 11(7) 4

1968 49(15) 32 8 13(3) 13 8 5 14(7) 3

1972 69(34) 32 8 34(8) 13 9 5 19 14(7) 9

1972 - Munich: The delegation of the NOC of the GDR enters the Olympic stadium.

1956 • • 3 6(3) • • 2 37(8)

1960 • 6 25(12) 1 6 • • 130(30)

1964 • 18 1 5 44(16) 2 6 • 8 194(41)

1968 • 17 • 11 40(16) 4 9 • 12 10 248(41)

1972 16 5 17 45(24) 9 12 15 331(69)

Representation of the GDR at the Winter Gamesfrom 1956 to 1972¹

1956 • 2 • 2 12(3) 16(3)1960 • •4 10(5) 1 19(4) 34(9)1964 5 10(3) 9(6) 6(3) 19(4) 49(16)

1968 5 18 10(4) 1(1) 8(4) 18(4) 60(13)

1972 5 9(3) 2(2) 7(4) 19(4) 42(13)

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•

The GDR Olympic Champions

I. Titles obtained at the Olympic Games

Name Christian Name Sport Event

Behrendt

Gummel

VesperMetz

LuckeBotheForbergerRühleGrahnSchubert

MatthesMatthes

EhrhardtStecherStecherZehrtZehrtKäslingKühneSeidlerFuchs

Höhne

Wolke

Balzer

Eschert

Krämer-GulbinKrämer-GulbinKrämer-Gulbin

Krause

NordwigFrenkel

Wolfgang

Manfred

WolfgangPeter

AnnelieRenate

MonikaDagmarRitaHelgaRuth

Roland

JörgHeinz-JürgenFrankFrankDieterDieter

Rudolf

Margitta

Christoph

Karin

Jürgen

lngrid

lngrid

Dieter

lngrid

Lothar

Roland

RenateMonika

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Boxing

Canoeing

Diving W.——

Canoeing

Athletics W.

Boxing

Athletics

Athletics W.

Wrestling—

Rowing—-————

Athletics W.————————

Swimming—

Athletics—

Pole vault20 km. walk

Javelin

100 m. hurdles100 m.200 m.400 m.4 x 400 m.

100 m. backstroke200 m. backstroke

——

Coxless pairs—Coxless fours—

Welterweight

Shot put

50 km. walk

Welterweight

80 m. hurdles

C1

SpringboardPlatformSpringboard

4 x 500 m. relay

Bantamweight

Middleweight

Aviron, 1968-1972:coxless fours

Year Birth Death Notes

1956

1960

196019601964

1964

1964

1936

1936

194319431943

1941

1938

1968 1943

1968 1941

1968 1941

19681968

19681968196819681968

1968

19391939

194219411943194419441943

1968 19501968 1950

19721972

1972197219721972197219721972

19721972

195019501950195219521947194719491946

19431939

NOC member

1960-1964 - lngrid Krämer

Besides these three titles, lngrid Krämer-Gulbinwon a silver medal for platform diving at Tokyo

1956 - Wolfgang Behrendt

1972 - Annelie Erhardt and Karin Balzer

Also second in the 4 x 100 m. relay

1972 - 4 × 400 m.

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Name Christian Name Sport Event

ThomasK l a u s

Helmut

H e l g a

Wol fgangRainerH o r s t

Thomas

Ortrun

Anna-Maria

U l r i c h

LuckeGunkelNeubertBrietzkeMagerForbergerRühle

SchubertGrahn

Bahmann

HornEibenAmendHofmann

JanzJanz

Kös te

MatthesMatthes

JörgWolfgangKlaus-DieterSiegfriedWolfgangFrankFrankDieterDieter

Angelika

SiegbertReinhardDieterWalter

KarinKarin

Klaus

RolandRoland

Rowing—

——————

—

Canoeing W.

Canoeing———

Gymnastics W.—

Gymnastics

Swimming—

Coxed pairs

Coxless pairs

Coxless fours

—

——

—

—

—

K1 slalom

K1 slalomC1 slalomC2 slalom—

Horse vaultAsymmetrical bars

Horse vault

100 m. backstroke200 m. backstroke

II. Titles obtained at the Winter Games

Name Christian Name Sport Event

Recknagel

Köhler

Haase

Enderlein

KöhlerBonsack

Müller

ScheidelBredowHörnlein

Wehling

Nordic skiing

Speed skating W.

Luge

Luge W.

Luge—

Luge W.

Luge——

Nordic skiing

Special jump

500 m.

One-seater

One-seater

Two-seater—

One-seater

—Two-seater—

Combined

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I

Year Birth Death

NOC member

1968-1972 - Roland Matthes1972

197219721972

1972

197219721972

1972

19521952

194219481949195219521943194419441943

1972 1952

1972197219721972

1950195119491949

This team from Dresden retained the title won in1968.

1972 - Klaus Köste

19721972

Also won two silver medals and one bronze.

1972 - Karin Janz1972 1943

1972 19501972 1950

Besides his domination in swimming backstroke inMexico as well as in Munich, he has remainedunbeaten for several years. In the 1972 events, healso added a silver medal and one of bronze forrelays to his list of honours.

Year Notes

1960

1960

1937

1934

1964 1940 1960 - Helga Haase

1964 1943

1968 19401968 1941

1972

197219721972

1949

194319471945

1972 - Ulrich Wehling

Birth

NOC member

1960 - Helmut Recknagel1972 1952 1964 - Thomas Köhler

PRESENT ORGANISATIONOF THE GDR NOC

• Composition

The GDR NOC comprises the IOCmember for the GDR, the Presidentsof the sports federations, the sportsof which appear on the Olympic pro-gramme, individual members appoint-ed for their activities in the country’ssports organisation or for distinguish-ed services to the Olympic movement.

• Members of the present Praesidium

PT: Manfred Ewald*; VPT: Rudol fHellmann*; SG: Günther Heinze*;T: Franz Rydz*; Press Officer: Wolf-

Rudolf Hellmann

Günther Heinze

gang Gitter*; Art Attaché: ErhardHöhne*; MS: Prof. Dr. Günter Borrmann*,Heinz Dragunsky*, Prof. Dr. JoachimWeiskopf*, Prof. Dr. Georg Wieczisk*,Prof. Dr. Georg Zorowka*; IOC mem-ber: Dr. Heinz Schöbel (also Praesi-dium honorary life member); hono-rary life members: Heinz Dose*, Hel-mut Behrendt*.

• Federations affiliated to the GDR NOCMembers at 1.1.1975

Deutscher Basketball-Verband der DDR (basketball)Deutscher Bogenschützen-Verband der DDR (archery)Deutscher Boxverband der DDR (boxing)Deutscher Eislauf-Verband der DDR (skating)Deutscher Fecht-Verband der DDR (fencing)Deutscher Fussball-Verband der DDR (football)Deutscher Gewichtheber-Verband der DDR (weightlifting)Deutscher Handball-Verband der DDR (handball)Deutscher Hockey-Sportverband der DDR (hockey)Deutscher Judo-Verband der DDR (judo)Deutscher Kanu-Sport-Verband der DDR (canoe)Deutscher Verband für Leichtathletik der DDR (athletics)Deutscher Pferdesport-Verband der DDR (equestrian)Deutscher Radsport-Verband der DDR (cycling)Deutscher Ringer-Verband der DDR (wrestling)Deutscher Ruder-Sport-Verband der DDR (rowing)Deutscher Schlitten- und Bobsportverband der DDR (bob and luge)Deutscher Schützenverband der DDR (shooting)Deutscher Schwimmsport-Verband der DDR (swimming)Bund Deutscher Segler der DDR (yachting)Deutscher Skiläufer-Verband der DDR (skiing)Deutscher Turn-Verband der DDR (gymnastics)Deutscher Sportverband Volleyball der DDR (volleyball)

They represent more than 2.5 million members of the GDR DTSB.

8,2752,467

18,2486,9546,283

512,4808,829

137,8445,820

38,64624,322

161,62028,10318,63715,77913,384

2,619200,000

77,26720,22333,182

345,73082,661

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• Organisation

— Supreme organism: four-yearly ge-neral assemblies and yearly ple-nary assemblies (legislative bo-dies);

— Praesidium (executive body): com-posed of the President, Vice-Presi-dents, Secretary General, Treasu-rer, Press Officer, Art Attache, andfive assistants (normally sports fe-deration Presidents), as well ashonorary life members and the IOCmember for the GDR (ex officiomember);

— General secretariat (organisationand executive office);

— Temporary or permanent commis-sions.

• Financing of the NOC

— Annual fees from the member fe-derations of Olympic sports;

— Subsidies paid by the Associationfor promoting the Olympic idea inthe GDR, including surcharges onspecial stamps issued for the Olym-pic Games and Winter Games;

— Aid granted by the public authori-ties for equipping and transportingOlympic teams;

— Donations.

* See biographical notes.

THE GDR NOC AND OLYMPISM

• Olympic Day

Every year, two sports events aredevoted to the renovation of the mo-dern Olympic Games:— Olympic International Athletics Day

(since 1963)—a meeting point forwell-known athletes, held at thebeginning of the season, it is verypopular internationally.

— The NOC’s swimming meeting(since 1952) above all attractsyoung hopefuls from the internatio-nal swimming world.

Momentous occasions, such as Cou-bertin’s centenary, the 10th and 20thanniversaries of the committee’sfoundation and other events, havegiven rise to the organisation by theNOC of galas, exhibitions and othercultural events devoted to the Olympicidea.

• Publications of the NOC

The GDR NOC’s bulletin (in Frenchand English) has appeared since 1956,initially at irregular intervals, but since1965 as a quarterly publication. It in-forms in particular IOC members,NOCs, IFS, personalities, editorialstaff, reputed libraries in the sportsworld and other interested personsabout the Olympic movement, sports ex-periences and sports science problems.

• Olympic Bibliography

Following all the Olympic Games since1956, the NOC has been publishingreference books in German whichgive complete and detailed informa-tion on the Games, accompanied byreports and accounts by sports jour-nalists and well-known columnists.Dr. Schöbel has served Olympism wellthrough his two publications:

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— “The Ancient Olympic Games”, alsotranslated into French, English,Spanish, Russian and Dutch;

— “The Four Dimensions of AveryBrundage”, printed in English andGerman.

Articles dealing with the basic pro-blems of Olympism appear in severalreviews:— Bulletin of the GDR NOC (French-

English);— Theorie und Praxis der Körper-

kultur (German);— Körpererziehung (German);— Sports in the GDR (German,

French, English and Spanish);— Wissenschaftliche Zeitschriften

(scientific reviews) of the GermanCollege of Physical Culture (DHfK)at Leipzig, universities and othertraining schools (German).

SPORT IN THE GDR

• Other sports governing bodies

The GDR’s constitution guarantees theright of all citizens to physical culture,sport and recreation. One of the mostnoble objectives in the GDR is topromote this right and make sure itis used.The initiator and organiser of sport inthe GDR is the German Sports andGymnastics Union (DTSB) of the GDR.To propagate and promote sport, theGDR DTSB is assisted in its work bylarge organisations such as the FreeGerman Youth (FDJ), the Y o u n gPioneers (JP), the Confederation ofFree German Trade Unions (FDGB)and the Sports and Technical Associa-tion (GST), which contribute to therealisation of common programmesand joint activities.Engaged in the overall, continuousand balanced development of physicalculture and sport, the GDR DTSB

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closely co-operates with public autho-rities: national education and profes-sional training, advanced and tech-nical instruction, cultural affairs, pu-blic health, etc.An organ of the Council of Ministers,the State Secretariat for Physical Cul-ture and Sport assures the executionand control of measures which havebeen adopted to develop physical cul-ture and sport in the public sector:formation of sports teachers, editingof sports articles, construction ofsports installations, etc.This co-operation with the most im-portant organisations is shown, forexample, by the children and youthSpartakiads (regional and nationallevel) which assemble at present morethan four million children and youngpeople in sports competition, and bythe “Joint sports programme of theFDBG, FDJ and GDR DTSB”, whichinvolves factories, institutions, co-ope-ratives and recreation zones. In 1974,more than six million people took partin this programme.At the present time, 2,512,214 peoplebelong to the GDR DTSB, representing14.8 per cent of citizens (statistics at1.1.1975).

• Sport at school

Two hours of physical education andsport per week are compulsory (3hours for classes 3-6) in general, pro-fessional, technical and upper schools.There is also extra-scolastic sport, inwhich 55% of students regularly par-ticipate (of whom 30% in schoolsports associations and 25% in sportsassociations affiliated to the GDRDTSB). By the end of general shorteducation (10 classes), 74% of stu-dents have obtained the sports badgeand 96% of all pupils have passedthe swimming certificate.The sports formation and education ofchildren and young people culminatesin the Spartakiads organised for sum-mer and winter sports.

• National sports federations

Abbreviation

Aero-Club der DDRAllgemeiner Deutscher Motorsport-Verband der DDR(motor sports)Deutscher Anglerverband der DDR (fishing)

* Deutscher Basketball-Verband der DDR (basketball)Deutscher Billard-Sport-Verband der DDR (billiards)

* Deutscher Bogenschützen-Verband der DDR (archery)* Deutscher Boxverband der DDR (boxing)* Deutscher Eislauf-Verband der DDR (skating)

Deutscher Faustball-Verband der DDR (fist-ball)* Deutscher Fecht-Verband der DDR (fencing)

Deutscher Federball-Verband der DDR (badminton)* Deutscher Fussball-Verband der DDR (football)* Deutscher Gewichtheber-Verband der DDR (weightlifting)* Deutscher Handball-Verband der DDR (handball)* Deutscher Hockey-Sportverband der DDR (hockey)* Deutscher Judo-Verband der DDR (judo)* Deutscher Kanu-Sport-Verband der DDR (canoe)

Deutscher Kegler-Verband der DDR (bowls)* Deutscher Verband für Leichtathletik der DDR (athletics)* Deutscher Pferdesport-Verband der DDR (equestrian)* Deutscher Radsport-Verband der DDR (cycling)* Deutscher Ringer-Verband der DDR (wrestling)

Deutscher Rollsport-Verband der DDR (roller skating)* Deutscher Ruder-Sport-Verband der DDR (rowing)

Deutscher Rugby-Sportverband der DDR (rugby)Deutscher Schachverband der DDR (chess)

* Deutscher Schlitten- und Bobsportverband der DDR(bob and luge)

* Deutscher Schützenverband der DDR (shooting)* Deutscher Schwimmsport-Verband der DDR (swimming)* Bund Deutscher Segler der DDR (yachting)* Deutscher Skiläufer-Verband der DDR (skiing)

Deutscher Tennis-Verband der DDR (tennis)Deutscher Tischtennis-Verband der DDR (table tennis)

* Deutscher Turn-Verband der DDR (gymnastics)Deutscher Verband für Versehrtensport der DDR(handicapped)

* Deutscher Sportverband Volley Ball der DDR (volleyball)Deutscher Verband für Wandern, Bergsteigen undOrientierungslauf der DDR (hiking, mountaineeringand orienteering)Radio-Club der DDRSchiffsmodellsport-Club der DDR (model boats)Tauchsport-Club der DDR (diving)

ADMV der DDR

DAV der DDRDBV der DDRDBSV der DDRDBSV der DDRDBV der DDRDELV der DDRDFV der DDRDFV der DDRDFV der DDRDFV der DDRDGV der DDRDHV der DDRDHSV der DDRDJV der DDRDKSV der DDRDKV der DDRDVfL der DDRDPV der DDRDRSV der DDRDRV der DDRDRV der DDRDRSV der DDRDRSV der DDRDSV der DDRDSBV der DDR

DSV der DDRDSSV der DDRBDS der DDRDSLV der DDRDTV der DDRDTTV der DDRDTV der DDRDVfV der DDR

DSBV der DDR

DWBO der DDR

* These federations are members of the GDR NOC through their Presidents.

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110,000 spectators in the Leipzig central stadium, the biggest in the GDR.

• Sports installations in the GDR

According to statistics, there are:Stadia 306Sports grounds 986Areas for gamesand exercises,including small ones 8,579Sports halls/all-sports halls 224Gymnasia and school gymnasia 3,735Indoor swimming pools(25 and 50 m.) 120Nautical stadiaand other swimminginstallations 595Ski jumps 408Artificial ice rinks 13

• Sports which draw the biggest crowds

Football, boxing, swimming, cycling,rowing, athletics, handball, figure skat-ing, luge, ski jumping.

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• Sports experiencing the greatestdevelopments

Football, handball, judo, canoe-kayak,athletics, swimming, skiing, gymnas-tics, volleyball.

THE GDR AND THE INTERNATIONALSPORTS FEDERATIONS

The GDR sports federations are affiliat-ed to the 26 International Federationswhich govern the sports registered onthe Olympic programme.Other GDR sports organisations aremembers of 55 international sportsbodies and groups.112 representatives of GDR sportsorganisations and institutions aremembers of 38 management commit-tees and 119 commissions at the headof and within these international orga-nisations.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

Helmut Behrendt

Secretary General of the GDR NOCfrom 1951 to 1973. Since then, hono-rary member of the Praesidium, aswell as of the DTSB, to which he hasbelonged since its foundation in 1957.Born on 18th January 1904. He trainedas an electronic mounter. From 1923o n w a r d s , h e d e v o t e d h i m s e l f t oworkers’ sport, in which he held res-ponsible positions, practising athletics,handball and football. An anti-fascist,he was imprisoned for ten years. After1945, he turned to the organisation ofsocialist sport and its development,and above all to youth activities. Hemade great efforts to gain internatio-nal recognition for the GDR NOC andin the eyes of the national and inter-nat ional publ ic he remains a f i rmsupporter of Olympism.

Prof. Dr. Günther Borrmann

President of the German GymnasticsFederation of the GDR and as suchmember of the NOC and its Praesi-dium since 1970.Born on 11th March 1926. A competi-tion gymnast until 1952. After an ap-prenticeship in aeronautical construc-tion, he turned towards pedagogy andbecame a teacher. He is at presentthe Dean of the Facul ty o f Spor tsMethodology at the DHfK in Leipzig.Member of the German GymnasticsF e d e r a t i o n o f t h e G D R s i n c e i t sfoundation.

Heinz Dose

Founder member of the GDR NOC andmember of its Praesidium, initially asSecretary General, then as Adminis-trative Secretary, and until 1970 asTreasurer. Born on 25th May 1901. Afollower of workers’ sport from 1920,he was a keen football player. In 1925he led the Lower-Rhine sports dele-

gation participating in “The Workers’Olympiad” . Af ter 1945 he took anactive part in the reconstruction andre-organisation of national sport. Pre-sident of the German Cycling Federa-tion of the GDR from 1949 to 1960. Hethen became Treasurer and foundermember of the Association for promot-ing the Olympic idea in the GDR. Hehas been an honorary member of theNOC Praesidium since 1970.

Heinz Dragunsky

President of the German Skating Fe-derat ion of the GDR and as suchmember of the NOC and its Praesi-dium since 1958.Born on 3rd June 1921. In his youth,he practised gymnastics and handball.In turn a farm worker and commercialpainter, he then took a training coursea n d o b t a i n e d a d i p l o m a i n s o c i a lsciences. Since 1957, President of theGerman Skating Federation and mem-ber of the confederal management ofthe GDR DTSB. In June 1960, he be-came an ISU judge. From 1963 to1967 he was a member of the SpeedSkating Technical Commission, sincewhen he has sat on the ManagementCommittee of the International Fede-ration.Head of the electric timing of speedskating events at al l Winter Gamessince 1964.

President of the Athletics Section andas such founder member of the GDRNOC. Vice-President from 1970 andsince 1973 President of the NOC.Born on 17th May 1926. As a youngman he practised sport, and athleticsin particular. Called upon to take upa leading role in the sports movement,after 1945 he devoted himself entirelyto i ts organisat ion. Af ter a co l legetraining, he became a sports teacher.From 1948 to 1952, Secretary of theGerman Sports Committee, and from

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Manfred Ewald

1952 to 1960 President of the StateCommittee for Physical Culture andSport. In 1961 he was elected Presi-dent of the German Sports and Gym-nastics Union (DTSB) of the GDR. Heheld the posts of Vice-President of theGerman federations of athletics (from1959 to 1970) and of gymnast ics(from 1970 to 1974) of the GDR.

Wolfgang Gitter

Since 1970, member of the NOC and thePraesidium’s Press Officer.

Born on 4th July 1932. Publishing eco-nomist and journal is t and as suchconnected with the GDR DTSB since1963. Before 1955 he played handball atregional level. He is responsible foredi t ing the bul le t in of the GermanAthletics Federation of the GDR, ofw h i c h h e h a s b e e n a P r a e s i d i u mmember since 1962. He is also theeditor of the review “Sports in theGDR”. Co-author of “Athletics, past andpresent” (an historical work in two volu-mes).

Günther Heinze

Secretary General of the GDR NOC,after being Vice-President from 1955 to1973. He became a member of theformer “Studies and Projects” Commis-sion of the European NOCs and todayhe is a member of the IOC Commissionfor Olympic Solidarity.Born on 26th July 1923. Outstandingathlete and basketball player. Graduat-ed in sport and political sciences. Since1949 he has been holding top positionsin GDR sport. From 1952 to 1955, Presi-dent of the Basketball Section, thenPraesidium member of the GermanBasketball Federation of the GDR andthen Praesidium member of the GermanVolleyball Federation of the GDR. From1952 to 1972, he was given responsibili-ties within the FIBA, including the vice-presidency of the Commission for Inter-national Organisations.

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Rudolf Hellmann

Member of the GDR NOC since 1962.Elected Vice-President in 1973.Born on 26th February 1926. Aftert r a i n i n g a s a m e c h a n i c a n d t h e nfollowing sports and social science stu-dies, he obtained diplomas in these twosubjects. He practised football anddiving most actively. He has been a lea-der in the sports movement since 1950.In 1961 he was elected a member of theconfederal management of the GDRDTSB. He heads the Sports Departmentin the Central Committee of the Socia-list Unity Party of Germany.

Erhard Höhne

Founder member of the GDR NOC andsince its foundation Art Attaché to theCommittee’s Praesidium.Born on 25th August 1909. Excellentathlete and gymnast. Sports pedagogystudies. Sports professor, responsiblefor physical education at the generalinspectorship in Berlin. From 1951 to1954, Deputy Rector of the DHfK inLeipzig.In 1967, Managing Director and since1973, scientific attaché at the generalsecretariat of the GDR NOC. His func-tions are very diversified: propaganda,journalism, pedagogy and Olympism.

Franz Rydz

Since 1970, member of the GDR NOCand its Praesidium, of which he hasbecome Treasurer.Born on 27th May 1927. Graduated insocial sciences. Active footballer until1948. Since 1950, attached to the admi-nistrative service of the DTSB, firstly asPresident of the Sachsen-Anhalt Regio-nal Sports Committee, and then as de-par tment head and Secretary , andsince 1959 as Vice-President of theGDR DTSB, as well as honorary Praesi-dium member of the German FootballFederation of the GDR. He has beenmost successfu l in prepar ing andequipping the national Olympic delega-tions.

Dr. Heinz Schöbel

IOC member for the German Democra-tic Republic since 1966.Born on 14th October 1913. Publisher,he is Director of two publishing housesin Le ipz ig , h is nat ive c i ty . A keensportsman from the age of 8. He wase l e c t e d P r e s i d e n t o f t h e F o o t b a l lSection of the GDR in 1953 and memberof the NOC, of which he was Presidentfrom 1955 to 1973. Today, he is anhonorary member of the NOC Praesi-dium and of the GDR Football Federa-tion, and also Praesidium member ofthe GDR DTSB. He has attended all theOlympic Games since 1956 in an officialcapacity. His Olympic knowledge isreflected in his publications: “The An-cient Olympic Games” (translated intofive languages) and the biographicalwork “The Four Dimensions of AveryBrundage” (in German and English).His activities in the IOC confer on himan authority which is well regarded. Hepresides the Publications Commission,having been an influential member ofthe Press Commission.

Prof. Dr. Joachim Weiskopf

President of the German Canoe-KayakFederation of the GDR since 1970, andas such member of the NOC and itsPraesidium.Born on 5th November 1927. Studiedmedicine and dentistry. Today, Directorof the Clinic of Prosthetic and Ortho-paedic Stomatology and Dean of theFaculty of Medicine at Karl Marx Uni-versity in Leipzig. International hockeyplayer from 1950 to 1958, he played forthe national team in 19 matches. At theend of his international athletic career,he became official doctor of the Ger-man Hockey Federation of the GDR andin 1965 its Vice-President. He wase l e c t e d P r e s i d e n t o f t h e G e r m a nCanoe-Kayak Federation of the GDR in1970.Board member of the Fédération Inter-nationale de Hockey from 1966 to 1971.

Since 1970, Board member of the Inter-national Canoe Federation, as well asinternational canoe judge.

Prof. Dr. Georg Wieczisk

Since 1959, President of the GermanAthletics Federation of the GDR and assuch member of the NOC and i tsPraesidium.

Born on 20th July 1922. At the end ofthe Second World War, he went intosecondary teaching. Advanced educa-tion, defence of a doctorate thesis.Since 1969, course professor at theSports Science Section of HumboldtUniversity in Berlin. He practised manyspor ts . He became Vice-Pres ident(1958) and President (1959) of the Ger-man Athletics Federation of the GDR.Since 1970, Praesidium member of theGDR DTSB, Council member of the Eu-ropean Athletics Association and since1972 Council member of the Internatio-nal Amateur Athletic Federation.He was the initiator and organiser ofthe Olympic International Athletics Dayin Berlin.

Prof. Dr. Georg Zorowka

President of the German SwimmingFederation of the GDR and as suchmember of the NOC and its Praesidiumsince 1966.Born on 10th February 1927. He studiedlaw up to the defence of his doctoratethesis. Today, course professor at theEconomic Science Section of MartinLuther University at Halle-Wittenberg.Swimming competitor, he formed partof the GDR national team from 1946 to1953. Up to 1958, water polo internatio-nal 17 times. Since 1966, he has been amember of the European Water PoloCommittee within the European Swim-ming League and since 1972 Boardmember of the Fédération Internatio-nale de Natation Amateur.He watches attentively over the tradi-tion and success of the NOC’s interna-tional swimming meetings.

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