GERMANY – The President, Secretary-General, Board Members and all of DIBF zones of Deaf International Basketball Federation offered their condolences after FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann’s passing.

We are deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of FIBA Secretary General, Mr. Patrick Baumann, at such an early age. He was a very significant sportsperson and leader who dedicated his life to the development and spread of all Olympic sports, especially basketball. As a former player himself, he knew precisely what basketball needed. Thanks to this knowledge and his education on law and sports administration management, he has helped basketball to develop globally since 1994, his debut at FIBA.

It was also Mr. Baumann who played an important part in DIBF to become a FIBA Family in 2011 when FIBA officially recognised DIBF in accordance with Chapter 4 of the FIBA General Statutes.

Mr. Baumann played a crucial role in the development of the Olympic Games in the International Olympic Committee, where he has served on various commissions for many years. World Academy of Sport, International Council of Arbitration for Sport, Association of Summer Olympic International Federations, World Anti-Doping Agency and many more engagements.

Once again, we’d like to express our sorrow on the loss of this exceptional sportsperson whom we have known since our DIBF governs the deaf basketball around the world.

We all use sign language to him: ‘Thank you very much for your invaluable support to our deaf basketball world. You will not be forgotten’.

Our heartfelt condolences to Baumann’s family and the whole basketball community. We are all blessed to have known him.

Aleksas Jasiunas
DIBF President

Jürgen Endress
DIBF Secretary General

Download:
• DIBF Letter – Tribute to FIBA Secretary General Mr. Patrick Baumann (PDF)