Johan Sverre (sports official)
Encyclopedia
Johan Tidemann Sverre was a Norwegian military officer and sports official.
as a son of Erik Olsen (1831–1918) and Josefine Andrea Nicolaysen (1839–1899), and brother of Ole Sverre. He changed his last name from Olsen to Sverre in May 1892.
In September 1893 in Fredrikstad he married Elna Jacobsen (1870–1958), a daughter of Julius Nicolai Jacobsen
. The marriage lasted until January 1917. In February 1919 in Paris he married Gudny Thaulow, formerly married Bonnevie.
to attend Aars og Voss School. He took the examen artium
there in 1888, then graduated from the Norwegian Military Academy
in 1891 and the Norwegian Military College
in 1894. He also took the Central School of Gymnastics from 1895 to 1896 and the Artillery' School of Riding from 1901 to 1902.
He had a military career, as Premier Lieutenant from 1891. He served interchangeably in Akershus Infantry Brigade and Trondhjem Infantry Brigade. He served in the Artillery from 1895, and headed its petty officer's school from 1911. He was promoted to Captain in 1898, Major in 1915 and Lieutenant Colonel in 1926. He was an aide-de-camp for Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden and Norway
from 1904 until the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905, and many years later served as military attaché to France from 1917 to 1921.
He started practising sports in his hometown, and was a gymnast in Fredrikstad TF and rower in Fredrikstad RK. After 1887 he was an active rower in several Kristiania-based clubs. He was a co-founder of Norske Studenters RK and chaired the club from 1897 to 1907. The club was first based at Vippetangen
, and from 1903 in Frognerkilen
near "Dronningen" at Bygdøy
. He was also deputy chairman of the Centralforeningen for Idræt
. In 1907 he was chosen as the new chairman of the gymnastic club Christiania TF, which he led until 1912. In 1911 he became president of the Norwegian Gymnastics Federation.
He chaired the confederation of sports, the Norges Riksforbund for Idræt
from 1914 to 1918, having been vice president since 1912. He was also the Norwegian squad leader and administrator for the 1906, 1908
and 1912 Olympic Games
. From 1908 to 1927 he served as Norway's member of the International Olympic Committee
. Sverre was also admitted into the exclusive skiing-based social club SK Ull
in 1896. He died in June 1934 in Oslo.
Personal life
He was born in FredrikstadFredrikstad
is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Fredrikstad....
as a son of Erik Olsen (1831–1918) and Josefine Andrea Nicolaysen (1839–1899), and brother of Ole Sverre. He changed his last name from Olsen to Sverre in May 1892.
In September 1893 in Fredrikstad he married Elna Jacobsen (1870–1958), a daughter of Julius Nicolai Jacobsen
Julius Nicolai Jacobsen
Julius Nicolai Jacobsen was a Norwegian businessperson and politician. Based in Græsvig, a settlement built around his sawmill Græsvig Brug, he founded the company J. N. Jacobsen & Co. which was successful during his lifetime.He was born in Strømsø as the son of a sexton...
. The marriage lasted until January 1917. In February 1919 in Paris he married Gudny Thaulow, formerly married Bonnevie.
Career
He lived in Fredrikstad until 1887, when he moved to KristianiaOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
to attend Aars og Voss School. He took the examen artium
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
there in 1888, then graduated from the Norwegian Military Academy
Norwegian Military Academy
The Norwegian Army Academy was established in 1750. It is the oldest university-level educational institution in Norway, and one of the oldest active military academies in the world. Krigsskolen primarily educates officers for the Norwegian Army. There are separate academies for the Royal...
in 1891 and the Norwegian Military College
Norwegian Military College
The Norwegian Military College was a military educational institution in Norway.It was established on 16 February 1817, with headquarters at Akershus Fortress...
in 1894. He also took the Central School of Gymnastics from 1895 to 1896 and the Artillery' School of Riding from 1901 to 1902.
He had a military career, as Premier Lieutenant from 1891. He served interchangeably in Akershus Infantry Brigade and Trondhjem Infantry Brigade. He served in the Artillery from 1895, and headed its petty officer's school from 1911. He was promoted to Captain in 1898, Major in 1915 and Lieutenant Colonel in 1926. He was an aide-de-camp for Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden and Norway
Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden
Gustaf VI Adolf - Oscar Fredrik Wilhelm Olaf Gustaf Adolf - was King of Sweden from October 29, 1950 until his death. His official title was King of Sweden, of the Goths and of the Wends. He was the eldest son of King Gustaf V and his wife Victoria of Baden...
from 1904 until the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905, and many years later served as military attaché to France from 1917 to 1921.
He started practising sports in his hometown, and was a gymnast in Fredrikstad TF and rower in Fredrikstad RK. After 1887 he was an active rower in several Kristiania-based clubs. He was a co-founder of Norske Studenters RK and chaired the club from 1897 to 1907. The club was first based at Vippetangen
Vippetangen
Vippetangen is the southern point of the peninsula Akersneset in central Oslo, Norway, located southeast of Akershus Fortress. It is surrounded by the Oslo Fjord and has served as an important section of the port in Oslo...
, and from 1903 in Frognerkilen
Frognerkilen
Frognerkilen is a bay in the inner Oslofjord, east of the Bygdøy peninsula.Its name stems from the neighbourhood Frogner, a name which was taken from a farm. It was formerly known, with Bestumkilen, under the name of Ladegaardsfjordene. This stems from older times, when Bygdøy was an island, named...
near "Dronningen" at Bygdøy
Bygdøy
Bygdøy or Bygdø is a peninsula on the western side of Oslo, Norway. Administratively, Bygdøy belongs to the borough of Frogner.Bygdøy has several museums, like the Kon-Tiki Museum, which shows all year long the legendary expeditions of Thor Heyerdahl; the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History ; the...
. He was also deputy chairman of the Centralforeningen for Idræt
Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports
The Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports is the umbrella organization for sport in Norway. It is the largest volunteering organization in Norway, with more than 2 million members, and 12000 sports clubs, in 19 region confederatons and 56 national federations...
. In 1907 he was chosen as the new chairman of the gymnastic club Christiania TF, which he led until 1912. In 1911 he became president of the Norwegian Gymnastics Federation.
He chaired the confederation of sports, the Norges Riksforbund for Idræt
Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports
The Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports is the umbrella organization for sport in Norway. It is the largest volunteering organization in Norway, with more than 2 million members, and 12000 sports clubs, in 19 region confederatons and 56 national federations...
from 1914 to 1918, having been vice president since 1912. He was also the Norwegian squad leader and administrator for the 1906, 1908
Norway at the 1908 Summer Olympics
Norway competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, England. It was the second appearance of the European nation, after having made its Olympic debut in 1900.-Athletics:...
and 1912 Olympic Games
Norway at the 1912 Summer Olympics
- Gold:* Ferdinand Bie — Athletics, Men's Pentathlon* Men's Team — Gymnastics* Alfred Larsen, Johan Anker, Nils Bertelsen, Halfdan Hansen, Magnus Konow, Petter Larsen, Eilert Falch-Lund, Christian Staib, Arnfinn Heje and Carl Thaulow — Sailing, Men's 12m class* Thoralf Glad,...
. From 1908 to 1927 he served as Norway's member of the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
. Sverre was also admitted into the exclusive skiing-based social club SK Ull
SK Ull
Skiklubben Ull was a Norwegian Nordic skiing club based in Oslo but with its sporting facilities in Vestre Aker. Founded in 1883, it attracted several professed sportsmen who between 1883 and 1891 won six Ladies' Cups and one King's Cup, among other national events. Its members also participated in...
in 1896. He died in June 1934 in Oslo.