Obituary

Turkish Olympic Champion Bayram Şit Passes Away

By United World Wrestling Press

Bayram Şit, a 1952 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling, passed away on Wednesday, May 29. He was 89 years old. 

Şit competed in the featherweight division for Turkey. After claiming a gold medal at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland, Şit added a silver medal at the 1954 World Championships. In 1956, Sit placed fourth at the Olympic Games in Melbourne.


After his competitive wrestling career, Şit worked as a trainer for Turkey's national team. He went on train the French national team for two years, helping many French wrestlers win medals. 

Şit was buried in the Karşıyaka memorial cemetery. 

Obituary

Former UWW Counsel, IOC Director-General François Carrard Dies Aged 83

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (January 10) -- Long-time International Olympic Committee Director-General and former United World Wrestling counsel François Carrard passed away Sunday at the age of 83.

UWW President Nenad LALOVIC expressed his deep sympathies with Carrard's family and said that the international federation is thankful for François Carrard's association.

"François Carrard was at the service of wrestling since we called upon him," Lalovic said. "He’s been instrumental in helping save wrestling on the Olympic Programme and continued to support the years after with his expertise within the law and international sport."

Apart from assisting UWW in many battles over the years, Mr. Carrard was also involved in helping the organization regain its spot in the Olympic Programme by advising on necessary reforms. It was his expertise in the field of Olympics and sports law that he introduced new statutes and modern governance principles.

Given his involvement in the sport, the Doctor of Law from the University of Lausanne visited the wrestling family on various occasions during the World Championships.

Apart from wrestling, Mr. Carrard, who entered the bar in 1967, led the IOC  administration from 1989 until 2003 and played a crucial role during the 1999-2000 IOC reforms. He was also appointed as the spokesperson of the IOC Executive Board.

In addition, his contribution in setting up the World Anti-Doping Agency and the introduction of the first WADA Code are well known besides being involved in revamping the Olympic Charter and in the IOC Commission on Apartheid and Olympism.

On behalf of the wrestling community, we thank Maitre François Carrard for his friendship and support of our sport.