François Carrard

François Carrard is not as well-known as the many world-famous athletes whose achievements were only possible thanks to him. As the righthand man to three IOC presidents, a troubleshooter for several sports in crisis and as the architect of vital initiatives in governance, the fight against drugs and the legal underpinnings of sport, he was one of the central pillars of the phenomenon that is modern sport.

A man of great charm and erudition, he will be long remembered as one of a handful of individuals who fought tenaciously against those who would harm sport and helped it enter a golden age when international sport came into our homes in remarkable celebrations of humanity.

With typical modesty, François has called his book ‘By the Way’, as if to suggest that what he achieved was of only modest proportions; nothing could be further from the truth.

As a young man, François Carrard had a thirst to travel far and wide from his native Switzerland. He was fascinated by people, places and cultures and became a shrewd observer of the diverse world he cherished. A speaker of several languages, an accomplished pianist passionate about jazz, an avid collector of scenic postcards and toy cars, he trained as a lawyer and was called to the Swiss Bar in 1967.

He brought his legal acumen to the IOC in 1979 and soon occupied a pivotal role in its organisation. He became its first Director General in 1989 and played a crucial role in re-writing the Olympic Charter, in the establishment of the World Anti-Doping Agency and in the creation of the Court for Arbitration in Sport. He also made a significant contribution to several other sports, including his role on FIFA’s Ethics Commission, and in advising the International Boxing Association and the International Swimming Federation.

A man of many talents, he was Chairman of the Montreux Jazz Festival and, possessed of great diplomacy and charm, was asked to be the figurehead of Lausanne’s Beau Rivage, one of the world’s most prestigious hotels.

By the Way is published by Chiselbury and is available here.