THE TOP JOB<< Back to Intro

Pal Schmitt

DOB: 13.05.1942
Nationality: Hungarian
Profession: Ambassador to Spain (1993-1997) and now to Switzerland
Sporting background: Fencing gold medallist (1968 and 1972 Olympics)
IOC Experience: Member since 1983, vice-president 1995-1999
Current IOC role: Chief of Protocol

He has great experience of the administration, but has never held any of the IOC's top positions. A decent chap and very approachable, he was the first to put himself forward. But as the proverb says, "he who shall be first, shall be last", and that was the way it panned out for Pal.