Xaver Frick
Encyclopedia
Xavier Frick was a Liechtenstein
ian Olympic
athlete and cross-country skier
. He was born in Balzers
, Liechtenstein
. He competed as an athlete in the 1936 Summer Olympics
in Berlin
and the 1948 Winter Olympics
in St. Moritz
. Frick is the only Liechtenstein
athlete to date to have competed in both the Summer
and Winter Olympic Games
.
Frick was a founding member of both the National Sports Association and the first Liechtenstein National Olympic Committee
(NOC). He served as the Secretary of the National Olympic Committee beginning at its founding in 1935. He later headed the country's NOC as President from 1963 until 1970.
Frick served as the first president of the Liechtenstein Athletics Federation, also known as the
Liechtensteiner Turn- und Leichtathletikverband, a European Athletics Member Federation, for 35 years. Additionally, Frick served on the board of directors of several other Liechtenstein organizations including the Alpine Club, the Gymnastics Club, and the Balzers Ski Club.
He was awarded a Golden Laurel in 2003 by the government of Liechtenstein for outstanding contributions to sport.
Frick died on June 10, 2009 at the age of 96.
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
ian Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
athlete and cross-country skier
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
. He was born in Balzers
Balzers
Balzers is a village and community located in southern Liechtenstein. As of the 2005 census, the community has a total population of 4,420. The main part of the village is situated along the east bank of the Rhine.- History and Culture :...
, Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
. He competed as an athlete in the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and the 1948 Winter Olympics
1948 Winter Olympics
The 1948 Winter Olympics, officially known as the V Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated in 1948 in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The Games were the first to be celebrated after World War II; it had been twelve years since the last Winter Games in 1936...
in St. Moritz
St. Moritz
St. Moritz is a resort town in the Engadine valley in Switzerland. It is a municipality in the district of Maloja in the Swiss canton of Graubünden...
. Frick is the only Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
athlete to date to have competed in both the Summer
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
and Winter Olympic Games
Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
.
Frick was a founding member of both the National Sports Association and the first Liechtenstein National Olympic Committee
National Olympic Committee
National Olympic Committees are the national constituents of the worldwide Olympic movement. Subject to the controls of the International Olympic Committee, they are responsible for organizing their people's participation in the Olympic Games...
(NOC). He served as the Secretary of the National Olympic Committee beginning at its founding in 1935. He later headed the country's NOC as President from 1963 until 1970.
Frick served as the first president of the Liechtenstein Athletics Federation, also known as the
Liechtensteiner Turn- und Leichtathletikverband, a European Athletics Member Federation, for 35 years. Additionally, Frick served on the board of directors of several other Liechtenstein organizations including the Alpine Club, the Gymnastics Club, and the Balzers Ski Club.
He was awarded a Golden Laurel in 2003 by the government of Liechtenstein for outstanding contributions to sport.
Frick died on June 10, 2009 at the age of 96.