Donald M. LOVO, FITA Honorary 1st Vice President and Honorary Chairman of Judge Committee, passes away

Donald M. LOVO, FITA Honorary 1st Vice President and Honorary Chairman of Judge Committee, passes away

Lausanne - 30 May 2006

  FITA is very sad to announce to you the sudden passing away of Donald (“Don”) M. Lovo. He has been called the father of International Judging in FITA and he participated in very good form at the latest Think Tank Meeting in Antalya only a few weeks ago.   On behalf of the FITA President, all the Members of FITA Council, the FITA Judge Committee, all International Judges, the FITA Staff and all of the Archery Family we send our sincere condolences to Lois, his beloved wife, Nancy Littke his daughter, and the entire Lovo Family.   It is a sad day for Archery but the fruits of his work will remain in the Archery family.   For more than 40 years Donald Lovo has worked to develop the sport of archery in Canada and around the world.   He has been an athlete, coach and instructor, an official and throughout the entire period a volunteer and executive. He has served in various executive positions at the club level, with provincial organizations and at the national and international levels. During the last two decades, Don has taught Sport Development Seminars for more than fifty countries.   For more than 30 years, Don has maintained his involvement in archery and sport in general in the following fields: Development Missions in Asia, South America, Europe and Africa (South Africa, Egypt, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya) Conducted Coaching Seminars in Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, South Africa, Mexico, Romania, New Zealand, and several other countries Course coordinator and lecturer for international Archery seminars in Poland, Spain, Greece, Turkey, France, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, China, Canada Conducted International Judge Seminars in Yangon, Israel, Cuba, France, Great Britain Chairman of first and third International Judge Seminar in Turkey Organiser World Judge Conference (Canada) Judge at Paralympic Games Chairman of Judges (Olympic Games, South Asian Games, National Championships) Technical Delegate for World Indoor and Outdoor Championships, Olympic Games, Pan-American Games, Oceanic Games, Caribbean Games, Canada Summer Games Senior Technical Official in World Championships and Pan-American Games International adviser to Organising Committees (Asian Games) Chairman of Jury (Central American Games, Asian, African, America’s and Oceania Championships, World Championships, Asian Games, Asia Cup, Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games Director of Competition (Asian Games) FITA Council and Executive Committee Member FITA First Vice President Member of FITA Technical Development Committee and C&R Committee Chairman of FITA Judges’ Committee and Field Committee Senior Advisor to Canadian Federation of Archers (FCA) Official Committee FCA Vice President and President FCA Target Vice President and Rule Book Committee Chairman Canadian Olympic Association Board of Director Member World Team coach and manager Canadian Team competitor and coach (World Target Championships in Sweden) Elite Canadian archer and national team In reward for his great work, Don Lovo received the FITA Bronze, Silver and Gold Plaquettes, as well as being made a member of Alberta and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.   A celebration of Don's life will be held at First Memorial Funeral Services, 4725 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC on Friday, June 2, 2006 at 10:00am with a reception to follow.   In lieu of flowers, donations in Don's honour can be made to Oxfam Canada at 215 Spadina Avenue, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario M5T 2C7 1-800-466-9326 (www.oxfam.ca).   Tom Dielen FITA Secretary General