Lamine Guèye (skier)
Encyclopedia
Lamine Guèye is a Senegal
ese ski
er, and the current president of the Senegalese Ski Federation, which he founded in 1979.
Guèye represented Senegal at the 1984
, 1992
and 1994 Winter Olympics
. He was the first Black African skier to take part in the Olympics, and has taken part twenty-five times in the Alpine skiing World Cup
and five times in the Alpine World Ski Championships. He attempted to compete in the 2002 Winter Olympics
, but was unable to do so when the qualification events which he was due to take part in were cancelled.
Guèye has been a prominent figure in drawing attention to what he considers to be discriminatory qualification rules for the Winter Olympics, and has written to the International Olympic Committee
requesting that all countries be granted the right to participate in the Winter Games, as was the case up to 1992 (included), and as is still the case for the Summer Olympics. In 2001, he published the letter he had sent to Jacques Rogge
, stating:
Guèye is the author of Skieur sénégalais cherche esprit olympique (ISBN 9782702139356).
He has also had a career as a model and an actor, and is the grandson of Senegalese politician Lamine Guèye.
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
ese ski
Ski
A ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...
er, and the current president of the Senegalese Ski Federation, which he founded in 1979.
Guèye represented Senegal at the 1984
1984 Winter Olympics
The 1984 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIV Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from 8–19 February 1984 in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Other candidate cities were Sapporo, Japan; and Gothenburg, Sweden...
, 1992
1992 Winter Olympics
The 1992 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 8 to 23 February 1992 in Albertville, France. They were the last Winter Olympics to be held the same year as the Summer Olympics, and the first where the Winter Paralympics...
and 1994 Winter Olympics
1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer failed to win the bid for the 1992 event. Lillehammer was awarded the games in 1988, after having beat...
. He was the first Black African skier to take part in the Olympics, and has taken part twenty-five times in the Alpine skiing World Cup
Alpine skiing World Cup
The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup is the top international circuit of alpine skiing competitions, launched in 1966 by a group of ski racing friends and experts which included French journalist Serge Lang and the alpine ski team directors from France and the USA...
and five times in the Alpine World Ski Championships. He attempted to compete in the 2002 Winter Olympics
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...
, but was unable to do so when the qualification events which he was due to take part in were cancelled.
Guèye has been a prominent figure in drawing attention to what he considers to be discriminatory qualification rules for the Winter Olympics, and has written to the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
requesting that all countries be granted the right to participate in the Winter Games, as was the case up to 1992 (included), and as is still the case for the Summer Olympics. In 2001, he published the letter he had sent to Jacques Rogge
Jacques Rogge
Jacques Rogge, Count Rogge , is a Belgian sports bureaucrat. He is the eighth and current President of the International Olympic Committee .-Life and career:...
, stating:
- "Up until the 1992 Olympic Games, included, every country could send four athletes per event to alpine skiing, and we were able to believe that we were equal. Those were the last true Winter Olympic Games."
Guèye is the author of Skieur sénégalais cherche esprit olympique (ISBN 9782702139356).
He has also had a career as a model and an actor, and is the grandson of Senegalese politician Lamine Guèye.
See also
- Tofiri KibuukaTofiri KibuukaTofiri Kibuuka is a Norwegian athlete. Ugandan by birth, he competed for Uganda before obtaining Norwegian citizenship. He has participated in both the Winter Paralympic Games, in cross-country skiing and in the Summer Paralympic Games, in mid- and long distance running...
, the first African to compete at the Winter Paralympic GamesWinter Paralympic GamesThe Winter Paralympic Games is an international multi-sport event where athletes with physical disabilities compete. This includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and cerebral palsy. The Winter Paralympic Games are held every four years directly following the Winter...
, eight years before Guèye first competed at the Olympics