IOC mourns the death of Honorary Member Sir Craig Reedie
It is with great sadness that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has learnt of the passing of Honorary Member Sir Craig Reedie at the age of 84.
Sir Craig held a number of leadership positions at the highest levels of international sport, where he helped shape policy, expand global participation and confront some of the most difficult challenges facing the sports world.
Among others, he was IOC Vice-President, President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), President of the International Badminton Federation (IBF) – today known as the Badminton World Federation (BWF) – and Chair of the British Olympic Association (BOA).
On learning of his passing, IOC President Kirsty Coventry said: “Sir Craig dedicated his whole life to the service of sport and the Olympic Movement. He was a steadfast guardian of integrity, guiding the global sporting community through some of its most challenging moments with dignity and resolve.
His contribution to the Olympic Games, to clean sport and to the development of athletes worldwide will endure for generations to come.”
Sir Craig began his sporting career as a national and international badminton player representing Great Britain in the 1960s. After his time as an athlete, he made a name for himself as a leading sports administrator. He was secretary of the Scottish Badminton Union and subsequently President. In 1981 he was elected IBF President, where he led the successful campaign to include badminton on the Olympic programme at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games.
He joined the IOC as a Member in 1994, later serving on the IOC Executive Board (2009–2012) and as Vice-President (2012-2016). Over more than two decades, he contributed to numerous IOC commissions, including Marketing, Olympic Programme, Ethics and the Evaluation Commissions for the Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games, as well as the Coordination Commissions for the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
In 2013, Sir Craig was elected as the third President of WADA.
He expertly steered WADA through one of sport’s most turbulent periods – the revelation of the systematic manipulation of the anti-doping system in Russia – drawing on his well-respected diplomatic skills.
Sir Craig, who was also an enthusiastic golfer, chaired the BOA from 1992 to 2005, during which time he played a crucial role in London’s successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games. He served as an inspirational Director of the London 2012 Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games between 2005 and 2012.
In recognition of his service to the Olympic Movement, he was awarded the Olympic Order in 2023 at the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai.
On top of a wide range of academic honours and national awards, Sir Craig was honoured by the British Crown: he was appointed Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1999, knighted as a Knight Bachelor in 2006, and later elevated to Knight Grand Cross (GBE) in 2018, reflecting his extraordinary contributions to sport and public life.
As a mark of respect, the Olympic flag will be flown at half-mast for three days at Olympic House in Lausanne.
