Sinan Erdem

Sinan Erdem studied law at Istanbul University, but he became a businessman, and was managing director of a group of five companies. He was an active volleyball and tennis player in his youth, and became a professional volleyballer in 1949, playing for Galatasarary SK, earning 12 caps for Turkey. He later coached the Turkish national volleyball team.

Erdem got into sports administration in volleyball, serving as secretary-general of the Turkish Volleyball Federation from 1957-67. He became a member of the FIVB in 1966 and headed the FIVB Organization Committee from 1972-84. Erdem was first deputy secretary-general of the Turkish Olympic Committee, and then served as it secretary-general from 1982-89. He later served as chairman of the Turkish Olympic Committee until his death. Internationally he was a member of the Mediterranean Games Executive Board from 1988-2003. He was made an IOC Member in 1988 and served until his death in 2003.