BUENOS AIRES, AR. (THECOUNT) — The basketball world is mourning the sudden loss of FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann.
Baumann, 51, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly after suffering a heart attack during the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Baumann was in Buenos Aires when the tragic death occurred.
FIBA President Horacio Muratore released the following statement:
“On behalf of the entire FIBA family, I wish to express our deepest sympathies and pass on our condolences to Patrick’s wife Patricia, their family and loved ones. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this very difficult time.
“Patrick was a lot more than FIBA’s Secretary General and an IOC member. He was a very close friend of mine as well as to countless people in the basketball family and the wider sport community.
“Under his leadership, FIBA moved forward by leaps and bounds, with the organization modernizing itself to the extent of becoming a model which fellow International Federations followed.
“Patrick was at the forefront of FIBA making radical changes to its governance structure, successfully building and moving into its own state-of-the-art Headquarters outside of Geneva as well as launching 3×3, its urban discipline which became a part of basketball’s program at the Olympics. He was also instrumental in the process of ‘ONE FIBA’, the coming together of all of FIBA’s Regional Offices into one corporate group, with everyone looking and heading in the same direction for the best interests of our beloved sport. Last but not least, he led the way in the creation and implementation of FIBA’s New Competition System.
“For all of this and for so much more, FIBA is forever indebted to Patrick. Without doubt we would not be where we are today were it not for everything that he did. His unwavering commitment, tireless work ethic and pure passion for basketball mean he will forever have his place in FIBA’s history.” source
Baumann joined FIBA in 1994, and became the Deputy Secretary General in 1995. He was elevated to the position of Secretary General in 2002, with his term officially starting in 2003.
While Secretary General of FIBA, Baumann has supported the growth of 3×3 basketball.
His contract was recently extended till 2031.