Niels Holst-Sørensen
Encyclopedia
Niels Holst-Sørensen (born 19 December 1922) is a former Danish
athlete and air force officer. He served as the commander-in-chief of the Royal Danish Air Force
from 1970-1982 and Denmark's military representative to NATO from 1982-1986. He won gold and silver medals at the 1946 European Athletics Championships and served as a member of the International Olympic Committee
from 1977-2002.
. Holst-Sørensen won the gold medal in the 400 metres
with a time of 47.9 seconds. He won a silver medal over 800 metres
, finishing a tenth of a second behind the Swedish
athlete Rune Gustafsson
in a time of 1:51.1. He was also a member of the Danish team which finished fourth in the 4 x 400 metres relay
in a time of 3:15.4.
Holst-Sørensen competed in the 800 metres at the 1948 Olympics
in London
. He qualified for the final in a time of 1:52.4, but finished the final in eighth place in a time of 1:53.4.
Holst-Sørensen won a total of ten Danish championships over 400 and 800 metres, winning both events every year from 1943 to 1947. In 1943 he won the 800 metres in a time of 1:48.9, the fastest time recorded in the world that year. Holst-Sørensen began his career running for Herning GF, but switched to Københavns Idræts Forening
in 1944.
Holst-Sørensen joined to International Olympic committee in 1977 and served as a member until 2002. He served on the IOC's coordination committees for the Winter Olympic Games
in Albertville
in 1992
, Lillehammer
in 1994
, Nagano
in 1998
and Salt Lake City in 2002
. He was named as an honorary member of the IOC following his retirement in 2002. Holst-Sørensen also served as the president of the National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark
from 1981 to 1984.
and was a serving Lieutenant
in the Royal Danish Army
during his athletic career. He was transferred to the Royal Danish Air Force
at its foundation in 1950. He eventually rose to the rank of Major General
and served as the commander-in-chief of the Air Force from 1970 to 1982 and Denmark's military representative to NATO from 1982 to 1986. He retired from the Air Force in 1987.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
athlete and air force officer. He served as the commander-in-chief of the Royal Danish Air Force
Royal Danish Air Force
The Royal Danish Air Force is the air force of Denmark with the capability to undertake homeland defense and homeland security roles as well international operations.-History:...
from 1970-1982 and Denmark's military representative to NATO from 1982-1986. He won gold and silver medals at the 1946 European Athletics Championships and served as a member of 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...
from 1977-2002.
Athletic career
Holst-Sørensen's first major international meeting was the 1946 European Championships, which took place in OsloOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. Holst-Sørensen won the gold medal in the 400 metres
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
with a time of 47.9 seconds. He won a silver medal over 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
, finishing a tenth of a second behind the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
athlete Rune Gustafsson
Rune Gustafsson
Rune Gustafsson is a former Swedish middle distance runner who ran a 1000 m world record in Borås in 1946. He lowered the previous record by Rudolf Harbig by 0.1 sec. to 2:21.4 min. He also won a gold medal over 800 m at European Championships.-References:...
in a time of 1:51.1. He was also a member of the Danish team which finished fourth in the 4 x 400 metres relay
4 x 400 metres relay
The 4 x 400 meters relay or long relay is an athletics track event in which teams comprise four runners who each complete 400 meters or one lap. It is traditionally the final event of a track meet. At top class events, the first 500 meters is run in lanes...
in a time of 3:15.4.
Holst-Sørensen competed in the 800 metres at the 1948 Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He qualified for the final in a time of 1:52.4, but finished the final in eighth place in a time of 1:53.4.
Holst-Sørensen won a total of ten Danish championships over 400 and 800 metres, winning both events every year from 1943 to 1947. In 1943 he won the 800 metres in a time of 1:48.9, the fastest time recorded in the world that year. Holst-Sørensen began his career running for Herning GF, but switched to Københavns Idræts Forening
Københavns Idræts Forening
Københavns Idræts Forening is a Danish athletics club based in the Østerbro district of Copenhagen.The club is based at the Østerbro Stadium and the indoor Club Danmark Hallen in Valby...
in 1944.
Holst-Sørensen joined to International Olympic committee in 1977 and served as a member until 2002. He served on the IOC's coordination committees for the Winter Olympic Games
Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
in Albertville
Albertville
Albertville is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The town is best known for hosting the 1992 Winter Olympics.-Geography:...
in 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...
, Lillehammer
Lillehammer
is a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was...
in 1994
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...
, Nagano
Nagano, Nagano
, the capital city of Nagano Prefecture, is located in the northern part of the prefecture near the confluence of the Chikuma and the Sai rivers, on the main Japanese island of Honshū.As of April 1, 2011 the city has a population of 387,146...
in 1998
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
and Salt Lake City in 2002
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...
. He was named as an honorary member of the IOC following his retirement in 2002. Holst-Sørensen also served as the president of the National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark
National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark
The National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark is the National Olympic Committee representing Denmark....
from 1981 to 1984.
Military career
Holst-Sørensen is a graduate of the Royal Danish Army Officers AcademyRoyal Danish Army Officers Academy
The Royal Danish Army Academy educates and commissions all officers for the Royal Danish Army. The Army Academy function was initiated in 1713 by request of King Frederick IV on inspiration from the Naval Academy....
and was a serving Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the Royal Danish Army
Royal Danish Army
The Royal Danish Army is the land warfare branch of the Danish Defence Forces, together with the Danish Home Guard.For the last decade, the Royal Danish Army has undergone a massive transformation of structures, equipment and training methods, abandoning its traditional role of anti-invasion...
during his athletic career. He was transferred to the Royal Danish Air Force
Royal Danish Air Force
The Royal Danish Air Force is the air force of Denmark with the capability to undertake homeland defense and homeland security roles as well international operations.-History:...
at its foundation in 1950. He eventually rose to the rank of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
and served as the commander-in-chief of the Air Force from 1970 to 1982 and Denmark's military representative to NATO from 1982 to 1986. He retired from the Air Force in 1987.