European Athletics would like to send its deepest condolences to the family of its former General Secretary Till Lufft, who died on Tuesday (20) just one day after his 82nd birthday.
Lufft served as the European Athletics General Secretary from January 1996 until November 2005, the first full-time officer in the role.
In addition to helping deliver the Budapest 1998 and Munich 2002 European Athletics Championships, he was responsible for a period significant growth in the organisation during the 10 years he was the principal executive officer – both in terms of personnel and activities – and oversaw the move of the European Athletics headquarters from Darmstadt, Germany to its current location in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Prior to taking up his role with European Athletics, Lufft was the general secretary of the German University Sports Federation for more than 20 years from 1974 until 1995.
He maintained his connection with collegiate sport throughout his life and was the FISU (International University Sports Federation) Technical Delegate for Athletics for many years until his late 70s.
Lufft was born on 19 December 1940 in Zurich, Switzerland and grew up in the German city of Braunschweig before studying law at the University of Göttingen and during his time there he won the German universities 3000m steeplechase title in 1966.
He was also an excellent hockey player and cross country skier, playing in the top flight of German hockey for BTHC Braunschweig and, after moving to Damstadt to complete his legal training in 1970, was part of the ASC Darmstadt team that won the German cross country skiing team relay title in 1974.
Tributes have been to Lufft by many people who knew him, including European Athletics President Dobromir Karamarinov.
“Till was a very important person in the growth and modernisation of European Athletics. His vision and abilities during the period he was General Secretary helped establish European Athletics as one of the leading continental sports federations,” reflected Karamarinov.
“He will be remembered not only for his organisational and professional abilities but also his warm personality and love of our sport. He was always a very welcome guest at all our events after his retirement and he will be sadly missed. European Athletics mourn his passing.”
Lufft was awarded the European Athletics Plaque of Merit upon his retirement in 2005.