Adolf Ogi (Swiss Standard German: [ˈaːdɔlf ˈoːɡi]; born 18 July 1942) is a Swiss politician who most recently served as Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General on Sport for Development and Peace from 2001 to 2008. He previously served as member of the Federal Council (Switzerland) for the Swiss People's Party from 1987 to 2000.[1][2] He held the Presidency of the Swiss Confederation twice in 1993 and 2000.

Adolf Ogi
Official portrait, 2000
Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace
In office
28 February 2001 – April 2008
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byWilli Lemke
President of Switzerland
In office
1 January 2000 – 31 December 2000
Preceded byRuth Dreifuss
Succeeded byMoritz Leuenberger
In office
1 January 1993 – 31 December 1993
Preceded byRené Felber
Succeeded byOtto Stich
Member of the Swiss Federal Council
In office
1 January 1988 – 31 December 2000
Preceded byLeon Schlumpf
Succeeded bySamuel Schmid
Vice President of Switzerland
In office
1 January 1999 – 31 December 1999
PresidentRuth Dreifuss
Preceded byRuth Dreifuss
Succeeded byMoritz Leuenberger
Personal details
Born
Adolf Ogi

(1942-07-18) 18 July 1942 (age 82)
Kandersteg, Switzerland
Political partySwiss People's Party
Spouse
Katharina Marti
(m. 1972)
Children2
Residence(s)Geneva, Switzerland
AwardsEuropean University (Honorary Doctorate)
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website
Parliament website

Between 1979 and 1987, Ogi represented the Canton of Bern in the National Council (Switzerland).[3] He was among the rare examples of politicians in the Swiss parliament not having received a traditional tertiary education.[4] Ogi is also known for his significant achievements in the Swiss Olympic Association serving as its president from 2001 to 2008. After leaving federal office he has been an advocate for peace building on a global scale.

Early life and education

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Ogi was born 18 July 1942 in Kandersteg, Switzerland in the Bernese Alps, a son of Adolf Ogi, Sr., a forester, mountain guide, skiing teacher and part-time municipal president, and Anna Ogi (née Wenger).

After completion his primary education in Kandersteg, Ogi attended the École du Commerce in La Neuveville from 1958 to 1961 followed by an educational stay in the United Kingdom.[5]

Political career

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During his time in office, he was in charge of the following departments:

He was President of the Confederation twice in 1993 and 2000.[8]

From 2001 to 2008, Ogi was a Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace to the United Nations Secretary-General.[9]

Ogi is today an ambassador for Peace and Sport, a Monaco-based international organization, committed to serving peace in the world through sport.[10][11]

Ogi was awarded an honorary doctorate by the European University.[12]

Ogi released a biography entitled Dölf Ogi: Statesman and Sportsman.[13][14]

Ogi received the Gold Olympic Order in the year 2000.[15]

Personal life

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In 1972, Ogi married Katharina "Katrin" Marti, a daughter of Hans Marti and Greti Marti (née Messer), innkeepers in Fraubrunnen. They had two children; a son and a daughter;

  • Mathias Adolf Ogi (1974-2009), a jurist and attorney, who died aged only 35 from a rare form of throat cancer.[16][17]
  • Caroline Ogi (born 1975), a hotelier and restaurateur in Crans-Montana.[18]

Ogi resides in Geneva, Switzerland.

References

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  1. ^ "Curriculum vitae Adolf Ogi". Federal Assembly. Archived from the original on 2015-01-24.
  2. ^ "Biography". premium-speakers.ch. Archived from the original on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2014-05-19.
  3. ^ "Ratsmitglied ansehen". Federal Assembly. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  4. ^ https://www.e-periodica.ch/cntmng?pid=che-001%3A2013%3A40%3A%3A533 [bare URL]
  5. ^ https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/004741/2022-03-11/ [bare URL]
  6. ^ "Le Secrétaire général a nommé M. Adolf Ogi, ancien Président de la Suisse, Conseiller spécial pour le sport au service du développement et de la paix". un.org.
  7. ^ "The new Centennial - Legendary New Year's Speech of Minister Adolf Ogi (GER/Swiss)". myswissvideo.com. Archived from the original on 2014-05-19. Retrieved 2014-05-19.
  8. ^ "Adolf Ogi". gcint.org. Archived from the original on 2014-05-19. Retrieved 2014-05-19.
  9. ^ "The UN's Perspective on Sport & Development". sportanddev.org.
  10. ^ "Building Sustainable Peace Through Sport. Together". peace-sport.org. 29 December 2007.
  11. ^ "Adolf Ogi, ancien conseiller fédéral" [Adolf Ogi, former federal councillor]. soupe.rts.ch (in French). 3 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2014-05-19. Retrieved 2014-05-19.
  12. ^ "Launch of Adolf Ogi's Biography in English at United Nations HQ Geneva - a Great Success". prnewswire.com. 28 February 2014.
  13. ^ "Launch of Adolf Ogi's biograph in English at United Nations HQ Geneva - a great success". presseportal.ch. 28 February 2014. Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  14. ^ "Launch of English-language biography of President Adolf Ogi: "Dölf Ogi: Statesman and Sportsman"". unog.ch. 14 February 2014.
  15. ^ "Gold Olympic Order awarded to Adolf Ogi". IOC. December 13, 2000. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  16. ^ "TRAUER UM MATHIAS OGI: Sohn von Adolf Ogi 35-jährig verstorben". Luzerner Zeitung (in German). 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  17. ^ "Adolf Ogi: "Der Tod meines Sohnes hat mich zweifeln lassen"". bauernzeitung.ch (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  18. ^ "Hôtelière Caroline Ogi über Vater Adolf". www.hotellerie-gastronomie.ch. 2017-06-08. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
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Political offices
Preceded by Member of the Swiss Federal Council
1988 – 2000
Succeeded by