Joao havelange biography wife

Havelange meaning

Before he was the godfather of soccer, Joao Havelange was the godfather of Brazilian sports. And before that he was a two-sport Olympian. Jean-Marie Faustin Godefroid de Havelange was the son of Belgian immigrants, a lawyer by training, who made his fortune in the transportation business, operating buses. Havelange became FIFA president in and transformed soccer from a parochial sport whose power was concentrated in Europe to a global sport dominated by commercial interests.

Havelange was the ultimate power broker who used all hispolitical and commercial connections to cut deals and consolidate his power around the world. Two years earlier, he resigned as a member of theIOC, which he joined in That disgrace did not prevent the IOC from ordering the Brazilian flag to be lowered to half-staff at Olympic venues on Tuesday.

Havelange was always a larger than life figure, who spoke French slowly in a deep gravely voicethat was easy to understand. The first time I met him was in Rome during the European Championship.

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The last time I saw Havelange was at a reception on the eve of the U. Soccer, was in a tough re-election fight. Elsewhere, everyone might have stopped to acknowledge the godfather. But at this event, soccer folks went about mingling and chattingwithout giving their special guest a second thought. Join the Conversation 2 Comments.

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