![Vitali Smirnov 2021](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Vitali_Smirnov_2021.jpg)
Vitali Georgyevich Smirnov (russian: Виталий Георгиевич Смирнов; born 14 February 1935 in
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
) is a former athlete from Russia. He was an active in swimming, water polo, tennis, and boxing, and he was a member of the
USSR
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nationa ...
Masters' water polo team. Smirnov has published various articles on physical education, sport and Olympic issues.
With 44-years of service in the
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee (IOC; french: link=no, Comité international olympique, ''CIO'') is a non-governmental sports organisation based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is constituted in the form of an association under the Swiss ...
(IOC), Vitali Smirnov is the second-longest serving member in the organizations history.
Education
Smirnov studied at the Academy of Physical Education and Sport, as well as at the
University of Social Sciences in Moscow (
Russian Federation
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
).
Career
From 1970 to 1975 he was the First Vice-
Minister of Sport of the USSR, and from 1981 to 1990, he was the Minister of Sport of the
Russian Federation
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
. He also had various other obligations throughout the years in sport and physical education organizations.
Sports administration
Vitali Smirnov was Executive President of the Organising Committee of the
Games of the XXII Olympiad in
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...
in 1980 from 1975 until 1981. Then he was member of the USSR
National Olympic Committee
A National Olympic Committee (NOC) is a national constituent of the worldwide Olympic movement. Subject to the controls of the International Olympic Committee, NOCs are responsible for organizing their people's participation in the Olympic Games ...
from 1990 to 1992. At the Russian National Olympic Committee he was President from 1992 to 2001, then Honorary President starting in 2001. He was a board member of the
International Olympic Truce Foundation (IOTF) as of 2012.
Smirnov joined the IOC in 1971 and was active in various commissions. He was a Member of the Executive Board from 1974 to 1978, the again from 1986 to 1990. He was in the position of Vice-President three different times, 1978 to 1982, 1990 to 1994, and 2001 to 2005. He was Chairman of the Eligibility Commission from 1992 to 1998. From 1972 to 1978, he was member of the Olympic Program commission, then he was Chair from 1983 to 1991. From 1973 to 1975, he was member of the Olympic Solidarity commission, then 1979 to 1982 member of the Tripartite commission. Smirnov was a member of the Council of the Olympic Order from 1978 to
1982, 1991 to 1995, and again from 2003 to 2004. From 1992 to 1994, he was a part of the preparation of the XII
Olympic Congress
An Olympic Congress is a large gathering of representatives from the different constituencies of the Olympic Movement, organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). As detailed in chapter 1, rule 4 of the Olympic Charter, the IOC Pres ...
– Congress of Unity. He waa a member of the
International Relations
International relations (IR), sometimes referred to as international studies and international affairs, is the scientific study of interactions between sovereign states. In a broader sense, it concerns all activities between states—such as ...
commission from 2002 to 2015, then in 2002 he was part of the IOC 2000 Reform Follow-Up. From 2004 to 2005, he was member of the
Remuneration
Remuneration is the pay or other financial compensation provided in exchange for an employee's ''services performed'' (not to be confused with giving (away), or donating, or the act of providing to). A number of complementary benefits in additio ...
Working Group. From 2006 to 2009, Smirnov was a member of the 2009 Congress, and from 2015 to 2016, he was a member of the Public Affairs and Social Development through Sport commission.
Vitali Smirnov was appointed to oversee the
Russian Anti-Doping Commission in 2016.
Honours and awards
*
Olympic Order
The Olympic Order, established in 1975, is the highest award of the Olympic Movement. It is awarded for particularly distinguished contributions to the Olympic Movement, i.e. recognition of efforts worthy of merit in the cause of sport. Traditi ...
(2015)
* Jean Petitjean Medal from the
International University Sports Federation
The Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU, en, International University Sports Federation) is responsible for the organization and governance of worldwide sports competitions for student-athletes between the ages of 17 and 25. ...
(FISU)
*
Order of Merit for the Fatherland
Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to:
* Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood
* Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...
;
**1st class (30 January 2020)
**2nd class (19 April 2001) – for outstanding contribution to the development of physical culture and sports, high achievements in sports at the Games of the
XXVII Olympiad in Sydney in 2000
**3rd class (26 August 1996) – for services to the state and the great personal contribution to the development of national sport
**4th class (22 April 2010) – for great contribution to the development of national sports and public activities
*
Order of Honour (22 April 1994) – for high athletic achievement at the
XVII Olympic Winter Games in 1994
*
Order of the Red Banner of Labour
The Order of the Red Banner of Labour (russian: Орден Трудового Красного Знамени, translit=Orden Trudovogo Krasnogo Znameni) was an order of the Soviet Union established to honour great deeds and services to th ...
(1985)
*
Order of Friendship of Peoples
The Order of Friendship of Peoples (russian: oрден Дружбы народов, translit=orden Druzhby narodov) was an order of the Soviet Union, and was awarded to persons (including non-citizens), organizations, enterprises, military unit ...
(1980)
*
Order of the Badge of Honour
The Order of the Badge of Honour (russian: орден «Знак Почёта», orden "Znak Pochyota") was a civilian award of the Soviet Union.
It was established on 25 November 1935, and was conferred on citizens of the USSR for outstanding ...
, three times (1966, 1970 and 1976)
* Gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation (6 August 2007) – for active participation in efforts to ensure the victory of the application of Sochi to host the
XXII Winter Olympic and
XI Paralympic Winter Games in 2014
*
Order of the Polar Star
The Royal Order of the Polar Star (Swedish: ''Kungliga Nordstjärneorden'') is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim.
The Order of the ...
(Yakutia, 3 July 2008) – for outstanding service to the Olympic movement and the national sport, a great contribution to the development of youth sports, and the establishment of an International Sports Games "Children of Asia" in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
* Badge "For Services to Moscow" (14 February 2005) – for his great personal contribution to the international Olympic movement and sport in Moscow
* Badge "For Services to the Moscow Region" (21 March 2007)
References
External links
*
Olympic.ru Peoples.ru
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smirnov, Vitali
1935 births
Living people
International Olympic Committee members
Full Cavaliers of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland"
Recipients of the Order of Honour (Russia)
Recipients of the Order of Friendship of Peoples
Presidents of the Russian Olympic Committee