Sam Ramsamy has made a massive contribution to the building of non-racial sport during the dark days of Apartheid. He led the first non-racial South African team to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and more recently played a pivotal role in securing Durban as the host of the International Olympic Committee session in 2011. Ramsamy has put the City of Durban on the global sporting map through his selfless and tireless struggle over the decades. The Order of Ikhamanga in Silver was awarded to him by President Jacob Zuma for excellent contribution to the building of non-racial sport during Apartheid and contributing to the sporting development in a democratic South Africa.
Dr Sam Ramsamy OIS was born on the 27th January 1938 in Durban is an educator, activist and sports administrator. His educational background includes Springfield College of Education, Durban; University of South Africa; Carnegie College of Physical Education, Leeds (Great Britain); LLD (HC) University of Toronto (Canada); Honorary Doctorates – University of Surrey and Leeds Metropolitan University (Great Britain); Honorary Fellow – Roehampton College, University of Surrey.
Ramsamy was a physical education lecturer and a primary school teacher. In the 1980s, he was a high-profile anti-apartheid campaigner in London and was chairman of the South Africa non-racial Olympic Committee (SAN-ROC) during the apartheid years from 1976 to 1990, campaigning against discrimination in sport and against the participation of South Africa’s white-only teams in international sporting events.
He returned to South Africa upon the lifting of ban on the ANC and became the President of South Africa’s official National Olympic Committee from 1991. He led the first non-racial South African team to the1992 Barcelona Olympics. He has served with the International Swimming Federation bureau and is currently also a vice-president and official FINA spokesman at all official events.
Ramsamy was a member of the International Olympic Committee and sat on their Commission evaluating the bids for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Member of the IOC Executive Board (2006-to date).