Jacques Delcourt (August 21, 1928 – November 11, 2011) was a prominent Sports administrator who was instrumental in creating the European Karate Union which later became the

European Karate Federation The European Karate Federation (EKF) is the governing body of competitive karate in more than 50 countries across Europe. The EKF's stated goal is to promote, organize, regulate, and popularize the sport of karate. It is one of the five continen ...

and this in turn inspired the creation of the World Union of Karate Organisations that became the

World Karate Federation The World Karate Federation (WKF) is the largest international governing body of sport karate with 198 member countries. It was formed in 1990, is the only karate organization recognised by the International Olympic Committee and has more than te ...

. He was highly decorated by the French Government, including the award of

Officer of the Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

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Biography

Jacques Delcourt joined the

French resistance The French Resistance (french: La Résistance) was a collection of organisations that fought the German occupation of France during World War II, Nazi occupation of France and the Collaborationism, collaborationist Vichy France, Vichy régim ...

at the age of fifteen and became a member of the Civil and Military Organization. A year later, when he was sixteen, he was wounded in combat and assigned to the 110th Regiment infanterie. Jacques Delcourt was appointed head of the

French Karate Federation The French Karate Federation (''Fédération Française de Karaté'') is the largest association for karate in France and a member as well as the official representative for this sport in the French National Olympic and Sports Committee. Interna ...

in 1961 when the discipline is still a branch of the

French Judo Federation French Judo Federation (, is the sports association that aims to promote the practice of Judo in France, Judo and related disciplines composed of jujitsu, kendo, iaïdo, sport chanbara, Jōdō, naginata, Kyūdō, sumo and taïso. Created on Dece ...

. In 1963 he was a semi-finalist in the championships of France by team. The same year, he invites France, to participate in the first international competition of karate history, leaders of six other national federations fully constituted and which are located in Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy Switzerland and the United Kingdom. These countries agree, and Congress they form lead to the creation of the

of Karate in 1965. Delcourt became its first president. Therefore, it made contact with Japanese officials. Their discussions lead to the creation of the World Karate Federation, which also becomes the President Delcourt. The first championships karate world shortly after Tokyo in 1970. Delcourt ceases to be president of the

in 1997. He remained, however, Honorary President and Life Member of the Executive Committees Worlds and Europeans, as well as the Steering Committee of the French Federation of Karate and associated disciplines, (ex- quality by implementing global laws) and Chairman (President) of the Legal Committee and Disciplinary World. He was a member of the French Olympic Committee from 1980 to 1992. He is a black belt 6th Dan Karate and holds the Gold Medal of the Prestige of the French Federation of Karate and associated disciplines. His professional career: company lawyer (Volvo and Charbonnages de France group paints Ripolin) holds a Master in Law and a DESS (Masters) option "Management and Sports Law." He is an Officer of the Legion of Honour, Knight of the National Order of Merit and holder of many decorations and distinctions. He died November 19, 2011 at the age of 83 at his home.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Delcourt, Jacuques 1928 births 2011 deaths French male karateka People from Le Touquet 20th-century French lawyers Officers of the Legion of Honour French sports executives and administrators Sportspeople from Pas-de-Calais