Karl Heinz Klee
Encyclopedia
Karl Heinz Klee was an Austrian
sports official and a lawyer.
when he was outraged by the exclusion of Karl Schranz
due to past unauthorized advertising: "Sport has always and everywhere operated as a profession." He was the founder and president of the Austrian Ski Pool, Secretary General of the Organizing Committee of the 1976 Winter Olympics
(1973–1977), president and honorary president of the Austrian Ski Federation and the Innsbruck Federation of Alpine Skiers
, an honorary member of the Austrian Olympic Committee and a legal expert on skiing law and the law of costs.
Until 2007, Klee was Chairman of the Committee on Legal Issues and Security of the International Ski Federation
(FIS). He was also Secretary General of the Organizing Committee of the 1976 Winter Olympics
in Innsbruck and a member of the International Court of Arbitration for Sport
in Lausanne
and President of the Tyrolean
Bar Association.
A doctor of law, Klee represented the Austrian Ski Federation in the blood doping violations
involving Walter Mayer
at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City
and the doping incident at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin
. Hermann Maier
was also a client of his after a motorcycle accident. He remained professionally active until the end of his life.
Klee was a recipient of the Gold Medal for Service to the Republic of Austria, the Award of Distinction of the State of Tyrol, the Honorary Ring of the city of Innsbruck and the Decoration of Honor of the State of Styria, Commandeur of the Ordre national du Mérite
, and a Knight of the royal Swedish Order of the Polar Star
.
Klee died on September 21, 2008, leaving behind a wife and a daughter.
Austrians
Austrians are a nation and ethnic group, consisting of the population of the Republic of Austria and its historical predecessor states who share a common Austrian culture and Austrian descent....
sports official and a lawyer.
Life
Karl Heinz Klee was an avid skier and as a lawyer also frequently dealt with legal issues concerning skiing. From 1966 to 1972 he was president and after that honorary president of the Austrian Ski Federation. He became famous at the 1972 Winter Olympics1972 Winter Olympics
The 1972 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from February 3 to February 13, 1972 in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan...
when he was outraged by the exclusion of Karl Schranz
Karl Schranz
Karl Schranz is a former champion alpine ski racer, one of the best in the 1960s.During his lengthy career , Schranz won twenty major downhills, many major giant slalom races and several major slaloms...
due to past unauthorized advertising: "Sport has always and everywhere operated as a profession." He was the founder and president of the Austrian Ski Pool, Secretary General of the Organizing Committee of the 1976 Winter Olympics
1976 Winter Olympics
The 1976 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated February 4–15, 1976 in Innsbruck, Austria...
(1973–1977), president and honorary president of the Austrian Ski Federation and the Innsbruck Federation of Alpine Skiers
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
, an honorary member of the Austrian Olympic Committee and a legal expert on skiing law and the law of costs.
Until 2007, Klee was Chairman of the Committee on Legal Issues and Security of the International Ski Federation
International Ski Federation
The International Ski Federation, known by its name in French, Fédération Internationale de Ski is the main international organisation for ski sports...
(FIS). He was also Secretary General of the Organizing Committee of the 1976 Winter Olympics
1976 Winter Olympics
The 1976 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated February 4–15, 1976 in Innsbruck, Austria...
in Innsbruck and a member of the International Court of Arbitration for Sport
Court of Arbitration for Sport
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is an international arbitration body set up to settle disputes related to sport. Its headquarters are in Lausanne and its courts are located in New York, Sydney and Lausanne, Switzerland...
in Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
and President of the Tyrolean
Tyrol (state)
Tyrol is a state or Bundesland, located in the west of Austria. It comprises the Austrian part of the historical region of Tyrol.The state is split into two parts–called North Tyrol and East Tyrol–by a -wide strip of land where the state of Salzburg borders directly on the Italian province of...
Bar Association.
A doctor of law, Klee represented the Austrian Ski Federation in the blood doping violations
Doping (sport)
The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport is commonly referred to by the term "doping", particularly by those organizations that regulate competitions. The use of performance enhancing drugs is mostly done to improve athletic performance. This is why many sports ban the use of performance...
involving Walter Mayer
Walter Mayer
Walter Mayer is an Austrian Cross-country skier and coach. He won the Vasaloppet in 1980, and finished second in 1992. As a coach, he was banned from the 2006 and 2010 Olympics after blood transfusion equipment was found in a house used by Austrian skiers during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt...
at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
and the doping incident at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
. Hermann Maier
Hermann Maier
Hermann Maier is an Austrian former alpine ski racer. Maier ranks among the finest alpine ski racers in history, having won four overall World Cup titles , two Olympic gold medals , and three World Championship titles...
was also a client of his after a motorcycle accident. He remained professionally active until the end of his life.
Klee was a recipient of the Gold Medal for Service to the Republic of Austria, the Award of Distinction of the State of Tyrol, the Honorary Ring of the city of Innsbruck and the Decoration of Honor of the State of Styria, Commandeur of the Ordre national du Mérite
Ordre National du Mérite
The Ordre national du Mérite is an Order of State awarded by the President of the French Republic. It was founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle...
, and a Knight of the royal Swedish Order of the Polar Star
Order of the Polar Star
The Order of the Polar Star is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim....
.
Klee died on September 21, 2008, leaving behind a wife and a daughter.