Svein Arne Hansen dies at 74

European Athletics has announced that its President Svein Arne Hansen died on Saturday 20 June at the age of 74.

Svein Arne was European Athletics’ fifth president since the organisation’s inauguration in 1970, after being first elected in 2015 and then re-elected in 2019.

He died in Oslo after failing to recover from a serious stroke that he suffered while at home during the evening of Sunday 15 March.

European Athletics Interim President Dobromir Karamarinov said: “I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Svein Arne. He was a great leader, a visionary for our sport and a charismatic personality within the athletics family. He was much loved by all those who knew him well and above all he was a friend of the athletes. We have lost a great man. All my thoughts and wishes go to his family at this difficult time.”