We regret to inform you that on June 1 the President of the European Olympic Committee (EOC) Janez Kocijančič passed away of a serious illness at the age of 78.
Since 2005, Kocijančič served on the EOC Executive Committee, and became the head of the organization in 2017. Kocijančič led the organization of the 2019 European Games in Minsk.
Kocijančič’s contribution to the development of not only the entire Olympic movement, but also sambo was very great. The head of the EOC supported our sport and promoted it to the international Olympic movement in every possible way. Thanks to Kocijančič, sambo entered the program of the II European Games (Belarus).
This is a big loss for world sports. The European Sambo Federation expresses its sincere and deep condolences to the family and friends of Janez.