IHF Honorary President and Honorary Members


IHF Honorary President and Honorary Members is an award established by the International Handball Federation. It is awarded by the IHF Congress to individuals who have rendered outstanding services to the international handball.
At the recommendation of the IHF Council or a member association, retiring chairman and members of bodies may be appointed as honorary president or honorary members by the IHF Congress.

Award

The award consists of the insignia of the IHF Council with full garland in gold and a personal gift. The recipient also receives a pass, entitling him/her to free entry to all handball events held by any member federation around the world. The Honorary president is also sent an invitation by the International Handball Federation to attend the IHF Council meeting. The honorary president may give suggestions on any matter but had not any voting right.
The award was first awarded to Willy Burmeister of West Germany in 1966 when he was made honorary member of the IHF. Paul Högberg of Sweden was made first honorary president while Raymond Hahn of France was made first honorary secretary general.

IHF Honorary Presidents

IHF Honorary Secretary General

IHF Honorary Members

Former IHF Honorary Members

Following is the list IHF Honorary Members who died after getting the award. There are also some members who were awarded the IHF Honorary Membership posthumously; they are marked with star after their name.
Honorary MemberCountrySinceUntilNotes
Willy Burmeister1966Member of International Amateur Handball Federation's Technical Commission from 1928 to 1938, Member of IHF Technical Commission from 1956 to 1966.
Einar Kaspersen1970President of Norwegian Handball Federation from 1951 to 1955, IHF Council Member
Risto Orko1970IHF Council Member
Charles Petit Montgobert1970IHF Vice-President from 1950 to 1970
Wobbe Akkermann1970IHF Council Member
Hans Baumann*19721972IHF President from 1950 to 1971
Charles Martin1972IHF Council Member
René Ricard1972Member of IHF Technical Commission
Albert Wagner1972IHF Secretary General from 1950 to 1972
Axel Ahm1976Member of IHF Teachnical Commission and IHF Playing Rules and Referees Commission
Carl-Filip Borgh1976IHF Secretary General from 1946 to 1950
Marijan Flander1976IHF Council Member, Member of IHF Technical Commission
Emil Horle1976Chairman of IHF Technical Commission and IHF Playing Rules and Referees Commission from 1946 to 1976
Hermann Milius1976IHF Council Member
Leopold Stipkovich1976IHF Council Member
Anders Fredslund Pedersen1984IHF Treasurer from 1972 to 1984
Nelson Paillou1984President of French Handball Federation and French Olympic Committee, IHF Council Member
Carl E. Wang19842016Chairman of IHF Playing Rules and Referees Commission
Aurelio Chiappero1984Secretary General of Italian Handball Federation from 1969 to 1973
Max Rinkenburger1988IHF Treasurer from 1954 to 1972, IHF Secretary General from 1972 to 1988
Heinz Seiler1988Technical Director of East Germany Handball Federation, IHF Council Member
Curt Wadmark19902003Chairman of the IHF Commission of Organising and Competitions
Dr. Vladimir Krivcov1992President of Soviet Union Handball Federation, IHF Vice-President from 1972 to 1992.
Alberto de San Roman y de la Fuente1992IHF Vice-President
Prof. Dr. Ioan Kunst-Ghermanescu1992President of Romanian Handball Federation, Chairman of IHF Commission of Coaching and Methods
Dr. István Madarasz19922010Chairman of IHF Medical Commission
Petar Bucu1992Member of IHF Commission for Promotion and Public Relations, President of Yugoslavian Handball Federation, Deputy Sports Minister of Yugoslavia.
Bernhard Thiele1992Chairman of IHF Commission for Promotion and Public Relations, President of German Handball Association from 1972 to 1990.
Friedrich Dusch1992Secretary General of Austrian Handball Federation, Member of IHF Commission of Organising and Competitions.
Werner Vick1992Member of IHF Playing Rules and Referees Commission
Vasile Sidea1992Member of IHF Playing Rules and Referees Commission
Babacar Fall1994President of African Handball Confederation from 1973 to 1993, IHF Vice-President
Dr. Jaroslav Mráz19942016Member of IHF Commission of Coaching and Methods
Dr. Walter Pallamar1994Member of IHF Medical Commission
Ivan Snoj19941994Member of IHF Commission of Coaching and Methods
Erik Elias1996Chairman of IHF Playing Rules and Referees Commission
Dr. Walter Schwedhelm19962013Secretary General of Pan-American Team Handball Federation from 1997 to 1980, President of Pan-American Team Handball Federation from 1980 to 1984.
Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Herrmann1996Chairman of IHF Commission for Promotion and Public Relations
Dr. Jiří Jeschke1996Member of IHF Medical Commission
Dr. Peter Buehning2000IHF Vice-President, President of Pan-American Team Handball Federation from 1977 to 1980 and 1987 to 1996
Janis Grinbergas20002013Member of IHF Playing Rules and Referees Commission
Er. Erik Larsen20002013Secretary General of Danish Handball Federation, Member of IHF Commission of Organizing and Competitions
Jeff Rowland2000President of British Handball Association
Kjartan K. Steinbach20042018Chairman of IHF Playing Rules and Referees Commission from 1996 - 2004
Øivind Bolstad20092016Chairman of IHF Playing Rules and Referees Commission