IOC PRESIDENT BACH MOURNS LATE ZAMBIAN SPORTS ADMINISTRATOR CHAMUNDA
By Noah Silomba
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach is saddened to learn of the death of IOC Honorary Member Patrick Chamunda who died on Sunday at the age of 77.
The IOC president Bach in a statement said “Patrick Chamunda’s voice carried weight in African sport and beyond. He was an exemplary promoter of the values and the social responsibility of sport, developing a wide range of initiatives, particularly in his home country of Zambia. Patrick’s advice was always considered and therefore appreciated by me and so many IOC colleagues. For all his commitment, he always remained humble and, even in the time of his serious illness, always maintained his optimism and sense of humour”.
In honour of the late Patrick Chamunda, the IOC will fly the Olympic flag at half-mast for three days at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland as a mark of respect.
National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) president Alfred Foloko who doubles as Commonwealth Games Association Zambia president on Sunday announced the death of Patrick Chamunda to the Olympic movement and the sports fraternity at large.
Foloko said “It is with profound sadness that we learned of the death of the former NOC/CGA Zambia President who was a colleague and friend in the early hours of Sunday 14th August 2022. He passed on while undergoing medical care in Johannesburg, South Africa. Mr Chamunda will be remembered for his exemplary leadership style throughout the years in and out of the sports fraternity.
We will never forget how instrumental he was in the setting up and implementation of the Sport for all project at OYDC Zambia as an Olympic Youth Development Centre after the centre was officially opened in 2010, which has seen star athletes emerge from the foundation he laid”.
Foloko further said Chamunda served several positions as listed below; Treasurer (1977-1981), Vice-President (1981-1992) then President (1992-2005) of the National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ); Chef de Mission for the Games of the XXIII Olympiad Los Angeles 1984 and the XXIV Olympiad Seoul 1988; Vice-President of the Zambia Golf Union (1985-1990); Chairperson of the National Sports Council of Zambia (1994-1998); President of the Confederation of NOCs of Southern Africa – Zone 6 (1997-2005); Member of the Executive Committee of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) (1997-2009); Member of the Executive Committee of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) (2002-2011); Treasurer General of ANOCA (2005-2009); ANOC Representative on the Foundation Board (2005-2013) and Member of the Finance and Administration Committee (2007-2015) of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
He was a member of the International Olympic Committee from 2002 to 2015; Member of the following IOC Commissions: Sport for All (2002-2015), Finance (2006-2014); Member of the Audit Committee (2013-2016), and Honorary Member since 2016 until the time of his death.
In 2012, he was honoured by the Zambian government with the Grand Order of Distinguished Service for his services to sport. In 2015, the IOC awarded him the Olympic Order for his contribution to sport and the Olympic Movement, especially in recognition of his efforts in establishing the Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka, Zambia.
