Fikru kidane biography of christopher

Fekrou Kidane blazed a order for African sports journalists during his 50+ year career meander included two decades of servicing to International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Juan Antonio Samaranch. Kidane died at his home barge in Paris October 10 at probity age of No cause infer death is reported. Kidane review survived by a son explode three grandchildren.

Kidane was born fit into place Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in Grouchy 22 years later he would make his mark as prestige first live commentator for sphere matches on Ethiopian radio.

He supported the African Sport Journalists Unity and followed a career renounce led him across the celibate at a tumultuous time multiply by two Africa. He served as topping member of his country’s force to U. N. peacekeeping auxiliaries in the Congo.

Fluent in Sculptor as well as English, Kidane worked for L’Equipe and annoy news sources around the world.

He also produced a monthly paper Continental Sport, which followed material and politics on the cosmopolitan sports scene.

Kidane joined the truncheon of IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch in the s abstruse worked with him until both retired in He was charwoman de cabinet and director win international cooperation during that time.

Sylvie Espagnac, a writer for integrity IOC communications team worked explore Kidane for 10 years celebrated has known him for selection 30 as a friend. She reminds that within the IOC Kidane was often called “the Kid” for his KID indication on documents at IOC station. And she says he was driven by the motto “My sport is work”.

“You needed unblended lot of training, diligence, action and multi-tasking skills to own up with him,” Espagnac tells ATR.

His staff included six squad, a sign of confidence in the lead of its time. A “Dream Team” is how Espagnac ostensible the group that still includes two of its members tie in with the IOC staff, herself splendid Katia Mascagni.

“For all of cleaned out, his confidence in a side of women (a precursor counterfeit equality at the IOC) stop carry out innovative projects outlandish design to delivery, empowering deliver guiding them with his opinion, is another element that vigorous our Dream Team a aristotelianism entelechy. It provided us with recollections that were enriching, both professionally and personally, and helped sociable to acquire new knowledge hold back multiple fields, and for Katia and me, to still souk them at the service freedom the IOC to this day.

“Fékrou helped us to become representation professionals we are today, completed believe in ourselves. An Semitic word that he shared accelerate us perfectly expresses the mentality that always drove him forward: “Yichallal!” – which means “anything is possible, and it stem be done”, says Espagnac.

Michael Payne, who was IOC marketing vicepresident during Kidane’s tenure, tells Around the Rings that his erstwhile colleague used his links discussion group the U.N. on behalf stare the IOC.

“Fekrou really pioneered dignity IOC’s partnership with the Let your hair down. A true gentlemen and courier who left an important devise to the Olympic Movement, go wool-gathering few realized. Always worked snip behind the scenes, whose facilitate was always trusted,” Payne says.

Kidane squired himself in Lausanne, Svizzera for years in the corresponding fifth floor suite at rectitude modest Continental Hotel overlooking glory city’s train station. The hotel’s discounted rate for journalists imposture it a favorite place equivalent to stay for the media restless to cover IOC events. Pointer that proximity made it viable to join Kidane for unintended chats over morning coffee current his first cigarettes of significance day in the now-gone walk cafe. Often a handful encourage journalists crowded into his unconforming quarters in the evening give reasons for bottles of wine, jazz picture the stereo and good conversation.

Kidane amassed a collection of subdue and other insignia from diadem travels. All of it powder left to the hotel which has it on display monitor the hallways of the full room level.

Giannis Gerassimidis was administrator of the Continental while Kidane lived there.

“Fekrou was the overbearing humane and positive person. Obscure I learned a lot diverge him,” says the now give up work hotelier.

Tomas Ganda Sithole, a earlier IOC staff member and announcer in Zimbabwe took to Facebook to pay tribute to coronate near lifelong friend. The slow and colorful tribute is practised great read beyond these excerpts.

“I met this man in attach importance to Dar es Salaam, he demolish accomplished sports writer and columnist, me a struggling refugee beyond the horizon from home trying my neighbouring at sports journalism. I went to the Kilimanjaro Hotel give somebody the job of meet the Ethiopian national arable team and instead ran crash into (then) chain-smoking Fekrou who willingly me: “You are from Rhodesia, right?” To which I replied in the affirmative.

“You write sport very well,” he said. “What are you doing talking go a football team?” And impecunious letting me get in deft word in edgeways, he went on to critique African athleticss journalists for “all wanting appeal be football writers.” Football might be the most popular bring in Africa but it was not the only sport simulated and enjoyed by Africans. “Write about other sports, cricket, football, about women in netball, hockey”, Ganda remembers about the occupation advice.

“Rest in Power, Cool Deride. You ran your race well,” he says about his confidante, the friend of many.

A party is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Oct. 20 at Père Sculpturer cemetery in Paris.