Giorgio De Stefani

Giorgio De Stefani was a top tennis player and it was largely due to his efforts that tennis returned to the Olympic Program in 1988. He was born into a wealthy Veronese family. His mother had been a leading Italian tennis player, and she taught him the game on the courts of their lake house at Lake Garda. De Stefani was schooled at the University of Roma, where he earned a doctorate in law, and won the World University Championship in singles. He was 1932 Italian champion in men’s doubles, and reached the singles final in 1934. He also reached the final of the French Championships in 1932, losing to Henri Cochet. He played Davis Cup for Italy in 34 ties, winning 44 of 67 matches. He was rated the top Italian player from 1933-36 and in 1938. His other sporting interests were mountaineering and golf.

In sports administration De Stefani was President of the Italian Lawn Tennis Federation from 1958-69, and he was President of the International Lawn Tennis Federation three times, from 1955-56, 1962-63, and 1967-69. He was co-opted onto the IOC in May 1951 and remained on the committee until his death in October 1992 in Roma. De Stefani was an Executive Board Member from 1964-68, and served on the Organizing Committees for both the 1956 Cortina Winter Olympics and the 1960 Roma Summer Olympics.