Giordano Fabjan

Born in Trieste, Giordano Fabjan graduated in economics and commerce from Cattolica University of Milano, and he was among the leading figures in Italian mountaineering in the 1920s-1930s. Along with Leonardo Emilio Comici, Italy’s top climbing talent between the World Wars, Fabjan took on and conquered some of the most important challenges in Italian climbing history, including the North Face of the Cima di Riofreddo (1928), the northwestern wall of the Sorella di Mezzo in the Sorapis group (1929), and the Punta di Frida (1934).

Giordano Fabjan later turned to sports administration, filling some important roles in Italian sports federations. From 1939-43 he was Secretary of the Italian Golf Federation, and later worked with winter sports, tennis, and canoe. In 1946 at Milano Fabjan organized the 1st Congress for the unification of Italian sports, and in 1956 he was appointed vice-secretary of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) by the president, Giulio Onesti. Fabjan was general secretary of the 1956 Olympic Winter Games at Cortina d’Ampezzo. From 1948 through 1972 he led the Italian delegation at various Winter and Summer Olympics.