René Fasel
Encyclopedia
René Fasel DMD
(born 6 February 1950) is a Swiss dentist
and ice hockey
official. He started his ice hockey career as a player for HC Fribourg-Gottéron, in 1960, and became a referee in 1972 and president of Switzerland's ice hockey federation in 1985. In 1994 he was elected president of the International Ice Hockey Federation
(IIHF), a position he still holds. He became a member of the International Olympic Committee
and was the first ever representative of ice hockey. In 2008, he was elected the winter sports representative on the IOC's Executive Board.
, Switzerland
, Fasel started his playing career with the Swiss league team HC Fribourg-Gottéron in 1960. He remained with the team until 1972 and retired to become a referee. He remained a referee until 1982 and officiated 37 international matches. In 1982 he became the Chairman of the Swiss Ice Hockey League referees' commission. In 1985, he became president of the Schweizerischer Eishockeyverband, Switzerland's governing body for ice hockey. He was elected to the IIHF council the following year and served as head of the Referee and the Marketing Committees.
In June 1994, he was elected the President of the IIHF, succeeding Günther Sabetzki
. He has served four consecutive terms as President. His most recent started at the IIHF congress in May 2008 when he was unopposed in his re-election attempt. As IIHF president, Fasel has tried to forge a stronger relationship between the IIHF and the National Hockey League
(NHL), the major professional ice hockey league of North America
. In March 1995, he helped negotiate an agreement so that NHL players could compete at the 1998 Winter Olympics
in Nagano
, Japan. He has also vowed to "work day and night" to help negotiate an agreement that will see NHL players participate in the 2014 Winter Olympics
. He is against fighting in ice hockey
, describing it as "Neanderthal behavior".
In 1992 he became a member of the Swiss Olympic Association. In 1995 he became a member of the International Olympic Committee
. He was the first ever representative of ice hockey. As an IOC member, he has held several positions, including Chairman of the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations
(AIOWF) and Chairman of the Coordination Commission for the 2010 Winter Olympics
. In May 2008, Fasel was nominated to replace Ottavio Cinquanta
as the winter sports representative on the IOC's executive board. He was named to the board on 7 August at the 120th IOC Session held before the 2008 Summer Olympics
. He will serve a four year term.
and University of Bern and became a Doctor of Dental Surgery
in 1977. In 1997, the IOC commissioned him to conduct a study of dental treatment of Olympic athletes. The report, "Sports Dentistry and the Olympic Games", was published in 2005.
Doctor of Dental Surgery
There are a number of first professional degrees in dentistry offered by schools in various countries around the world. These include the following:* Doctor of Dental Surgery * Doctor of Dental Medicine * Bachelor of Dentistry...
(born 6 February 1950) is a Swiss dentist
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a 'dental surgeon', is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services...
and ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
official. He started his ice hockey career as a player for HC Fribourg-Gottéron, in 1960, and became a referee in 1972 and president of Switzerland's ice hockey federation in 1985. In 1994 he was elected president of the International Ice Hockey Federation
International Ice Hockey Federation
The International Ice Hockey Federation is the worldwide governing body for ice hockey and in-line hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 70 members...
(IIHF), a position he still holds. He became a 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...
and was the first ever representative of ice hockey. In 2008, he was elected the winter sports representative on the IOC's Executive Board.
Career
Born in FribourgFribourg
Fribourg is the capital of the Swiss canton of Fribourg and the district of Sarine. It is located on both sides of the river Saane/Sarine, on the Swiss plateau, and is an important economic, administrative and educational center on the cultural border between German and French Switzerland...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Fasel started his playing career with the Swiss league team HC Fribourg-Gottéron in 1960. He remained with the team until 1972 and retired to become a referee. He remained a referee until 1982 and officiated 37 international matches. In 1982 he became the Chairman of the Swiss Ice Hockey League referees' commission. In 1985, he became president of the Schweizerischer Eishockeyverband, Switzerland's governing body for ice hockey. He was elected to the IIHF council the following year and served as head of the Referee and the Marketing Committees.
In June 1994, he was elected the President of the IIHF, succeeding Günther Sabetzki
Gunther Sabetzki
Günther Sabetzki was an executive for several ice hockey leagues and organizations....
. He has served four consecutive terms as President. His most recent started at the IIHF congress in May 2008 when he was unopposed in his re-election attempt. As IIHF president, Fasel has tried to forge a stronger relationship between the IIHF and the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL), the major professional ice hockey league of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. In March 1995, he helped negotiate an agreement so that NHL players could compete at the 1998 Winter Olympics
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
in Nagano
Nagano, Nagano
, the capital city of Nagano Prefecture, is located in the northern part of the prefecture near the confluence of the Chikuma and the Sai rivers, on the main Japanese island of Honshū.As of April 1, 2011 the city has a population of 387,146...
, Japan. He has also vowed to "work day and night" to help negotiate an agreement that will see NHL players participate in the 2014 Winter Olympics
2014 Winter Olympics
The 2014 Winter Olympics, officially the XXII Olympic Winter Games, or the 22nd Winter Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event scheduled to be celebrated from 7 to 23 February 2014, in Sochi, Russia with some events held in the resort town of Krasnaya Polyana. Both the Olympic and...
. He is against fighting in ice hockey
Fighting in ice hockey
Fighting in ice hockey is an established tradition of the sport in North America, with a long history involving many levels of amateur and professional play and including some notable individual fights. Although a definite source of criticism, it is a considerable draw for the sport, and some fans...
, describing it as "Neanderthal behavior".
In 1992 he became a member of the Swiss Olympic Association. In 1995 he became a 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...
. He was the first ever representative of ice hockey. As an IOC member, he has held several positions, including Chairman of the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations
Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations
The Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations is an association of winter sports federations recognized by the International Olympic Committee that compete in the Olympic Winter Games....
(AIOWF) and Chairman of the Coordination Commission for the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
. In May 2008, Fasel was nominated to replace Ottavio Cinquanta
Ottavio Cinquanta
Ottavio Cinquanta , is currently President of the International Skating Union and a member of the International Olympic Committee.He has held the ISU position since 1994 and the IOC position since 1996....
as the winter sports representative on the IOC's executive board. He was named to the board on 7 August at the 120th IOC Session held before the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
. He will serve a four year term.
Personal life
Fasel is married and has four children. He attended the University of FribourgUniversity of Fribourg
The University of Fribourg is a university in the city of Fribourg, Switzerland.The roots of the University can be traced back to 1582, when the notable Jesuit Peter Canisius founded the Collège Saint-Michel in the City of Fribourg. In 1763, an Academy of law was founded by the state of Frobourg...
and University of Bern and became a Doctor of Dental Surgery
Doctor of Dental Surgery
There are a number of first professional degrees in dentistry offered by schools in various countries around the world. These include the following:* Doctor of Dental Surgery * Doctor of Dental Medicine * Bachelor of Dentistry...
in 1977. In 1997, the IOC commissioned him to conduct a study of dental treatment of Olympic athletes. The report, "Sports Dentistry and the Olympic Games", was published in 2005.
External links
- Sports Dentistry and the Olympic Games by René Fasel and Paul M. Piccininni