Sam Ramsamy
Encyclopedia
Sam Ramsamy is an educator, activist and sports administrator from South Africa
.
Ramsamy was a physical education lecturer and a primary school teacher.
In the 1980s, he was a high-profile anti-apartheid campaigner in London
and was chairman of the South Africa non-racial Olympic Committee (SAN-ROC) during the apartheid years from 1976 to 1990, campaigning against discrimination in sport and against the participation of South Africa's white-only teams in international sporting events.
He returned to South Africa upon the lifting of ban on the ANC
and became the President of South Africa's official National Olympic Committee
from 1991. He led the first non-racial South African team to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics
. He has served with the International Swimming Federation
bureau and is currently also a vice-president and official FINA spokesman at all official events.
Ramsamy is a member of the International Olympic Committee
and sat on their Commission evaluating the bids for the 2012 Summer Olympics
. He is currently a member of the IOC co-ordination committee for the 2012 London Games.
In May 2011, following the announcement that South Africa will not bid for the 2020 Olympic Games, Ramsamy told Olympic news source Around the Rings that he was "disappointed" in the government's decision, but he is "certain" they will bid for 2024.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
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Ramsamy was a physical education lecturer and a primary school teacher.
In the 1980s, he was a high-profile anti-apartheid campaigner in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and was chairman of the South Africa non-racial Olympic Committee (SAN-ROC) during the apartheid years from 1976 to 1990, campaigning against discrimination in sport and against the participation of South Africa's white-only teams in international sporting events.
He returned to South Africa upon the lifting of ban on the ANC
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
and became the President of South Africa's official National Olympic Committee
National Olympic Committee
National Olympic Committees are the national constituents of the worldwide Olympic movement. Subject to the controls of the International Olympic Committee, they are responsible for organizing their people's participation in the Olympic Games...
from 1991. He led the first non-racial South African team to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
. He has served with the International Swimming Federation
Fina
Fina may refer to:*Fina, a character in the Skies of Arcadia video game*FINA, the International Swimming Federation*FINA, the North American Forum on Integration...
bureau and is currently also a vice-president and official FINA spokesman at all official events.
Ramsamy is 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 sat on their Commission evaluating the bids for the 2012 Summer Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
. He is currently a member of the IOC co-ordination committee for the 2012 London Games.
In May 2011, following the announcement that South Africa will not bid for the 2020 Olympic Games, Ramsamy told Olympic news source Around the Rings that he was "disappointed" in the government's decision, but he is "certain" they will bid for 2024.