The International Handball Federation and the whole handball family were saddened to hear of the passing of Mr Chong-Ha Kim yesterday (Sunday 3 March), at the age of 85.

 

Kim was a former President of the Korean Handball Federation (KHF), as well as President of the Korea Olympic Committee (KOC) and Chairman of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games during which the Korea Republic famously won gold in the women’s competition and silver in the men’s competition – the women following a silver gained at Los Angeles in 1984 and, following Seoul, gold at Barcelona in 1992 during a golden period for Korean handball.

 

His superb professionalism, knowledge and passion for handball was evidenced through this advancement of handball in the Republic of Korea with the women’s and men’s teams dominant continentally and impressively globally.

 

Kim started his long and distinguished handball career early. From 1954-56 he played for the Korea Military Academy before becoming Vice President of the KHF in 1973 until 1981 when he became President.

 

During this period, he was elected as President of the Korea Olympic Committee (1985-1989) and was also part of early discussions between South and North Korea sports during his role as Chief Delegate of South-North Korea Sports Dialog (1985), along with roles as Senior Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia (1986) and Chairman of the Board of Korea Sport Promotion Foundation – KSPO (1986).

 

In 1992, Kim became Asia’s representative on the IHF Council following the 24th IHF Congress, held in Barcelona, Spain, with the IHF awarding him honorary membership in 1996.

 

IHF President Dr Hassan Moustafa and the IHF would like to express their sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Kim, the Korea Handball Federation and Asian Handball Federation for their loss.

 

Photo: Korea Handball Federation