(photo: International Fair Play Committee)
LAUSANNE, Switz., Feb. 8, 2023—Erika Dienstl (GER), FIE Member of Honour and Hall of Fame Member, has been honoured by the International Fair Play Committee with a special Fair Play recognition for her lifelong commitment to excellence and leadership in world sports. The award was presented by Sunil Sabharwal, CIFP Secretary-General.
Accompanied by Professor Gudrun Doll-Tepper, Honorary President of ICSSPE (a CIFP founding organisation), the award was presented by Mr. Sabharwal to Ms. Dienstl at her home in Stolberg, Germany, on behalf of IFPC President Jenő Kamuti, who said, “Please accept my sincere congratulations, in accordance with the decision of the International Fair Play Committee and on my own behalf, on the occasion of your being awarded the World Fair Play Trophy in recognition of your career. Our careers in sports diplomacy have run parallel, and I have seen you always working and living in the spirit of Fair Play for the benefit of German, European and also world fencing sport.”
Ms. Dienstl served as a member of the FIE Statutes Commission from 1989 to 2000 and the FIE Legal Commission from 2000 to 2004.
In 1995, Ms. Dienstl was appointed to the Sport and Environment Commission of the IOC, and she received numerous awards and accolades over her long career in world fencing and sports. Born in Aachen, Germany in 1930, she began her fencing career in 1952.
Of note, in 1997 she was awarded the Olympic Order in Silver from the IOC, the highest international sports award. In 2008, she was awarded the European Olympic Laurels by the European Olympic Committee.
Ms. Dienstl was the president of the German Fencing Federation for 14 years, until 2001, and was vice president of the German Sports Association from 1982 to 2002.
On behalf of the International Fencing Federation and its global family, we congratulate her on this prestigious recognition.