Gérard Blitz (entrepreneur)
Encyclopedia
Gérard Blitz was a Belgian water polo
player and Yogi
.
Born in Antwerp, he was the son of Maurice Blitz
and nephew of Gérard Blitz
, both members of the Belgian water polo national team who won Olympic medals.
He was apolitical
during the 1930s, but joined the French resistance
in World War II
. After the war, he founded Club Med
.
On 27 April 1950, Gérard Blitz founded the Club Méditerranée association. In the same year, the first vacation resort for the members of the club was opened on Majorca island, in Spain
.
Gérard Blitz was also a promoter of yoga
practice. He was secretary and then president of the European Union of Yoga from 1974 to his death in 1990 in Paris
.
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
player and Yogi
Yogi
A Yogi is a practitioner of Yoga. The word is also used to refer to ascetic practitioners of meditation in a number of South Asian Religions including Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.-Etymology:...
.
Born in Antwerp, he was the son of Maurice Blitz
Maurice Blitz
Maurice Blitz was a Belgian Olympic water polo player during 1920s.He was the older brother of sporting champion Gérard Blitz, and father of Gérard Blitz who founded Club Med in 1950....
and nephew of Gérard Blitz
Gérard Blitz (sportsman)
Gérard Blitz was a Belgian Olympic swimmer and water polo player during 1920s. Born in Amsterdam, he was the younger brother of Maurice Blitz, also a waterpolo player, and uncle of Gérard Blitz who founded Club Med in 1950.Blitz was Jewish. In 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp Blitz won medals in...
, both members of the Belgian water polo national team who won Olympic medals.
He was apolitical
Apolitical
The state or quality of being apolitical can be the apathy and/or the antipathy towards all political affiliations. Being apolitical can also refer to situations in which people take an unbiased position in regard to political matters.-References:...
during the 1930s, but joined the French resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war, he founded Club Med
Club Med
Club Méditerranée , commonly known as Club Med, is a French corporation of vacation resorts found in many parts of the world, usually in exotic locations. It is considered the original all-inclusive resort.-Foundation:...
.
On 27 April 1950, Gérard Blitz founded the Club Méditerranée association. In the same year, the first vacation resort for the members of the club was opened on Majorca island, in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Gérard Blitz was also a promoter of yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
practice. He was secretary and then president of the European Union of Yoga from 1974 to his death in 1990 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.