(Picture: WKF and EKF President Antonio Espinós (left) and EOC President Janez KocijanÄÂÂ�iÄÂÂ� during their meeting on September 2019)

The World Karate Federation mourns the passing of European Olympic Committees (EOC) President Janez Kocijancic.

Head of EOC since 2017, Janez Kocijancic passed away Monday at the age of 78 due to a sudden and severe disease. Mr. Kocijancic played a crucial role in the development of the Olympic movement in Europe. During his term as EOC President, he directed the outstanding second edition of the European Games in Minsk (Belarus) with Karate notably contributing to the success of the event.

Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) for Europe since 2017 and member of the Council of the International Ski Federation (FIS) since 1981 and FIS Vice President since 2010, among many other responsibilities, Mr Kocijancic was a prominent figure in the sports community in Europe. The World Karate Federation and the European Karate Federation express their deepest sympathies to Mr. Kocijancic’s family and friends at this difficult time.

“On behalf of the entire Karate family in Europe and around the world, I wish to offer our deepest condolences to Mr Kocijancic’s loved ones. Our thoughts are with them. Janez Kocijancic was a champion of the Olympic movement and a friend of Karate. We will always be grateful for his camaraderie and his assistance during all these years,” said WKF and EKF President Antonio Espinós.