LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) β The International Olympic Committee says long-time member Peter Tallberg of Finland has died after a battle against cancer. He was 77.
Tallberg was a sailor who competed in five Olympics between 1960 and 1980, with his best result a fourth-place finish in the Star class in 1964. He became an IOC member in 1976, and was the founding chairman of its athletes’ commission.
IOC President Thomas Bach described Tallberg as “my first teacher at the IOC” and said “the athletes of the world and all those who love sport owe him a huge debt.”
Tallberg also competed in skiing, winning a 1964 national slalom championship.
Bach said the Olympic flag at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne will be flown at half-mast in his honor for three days.
