Till Lufft Death, Obituary – Till Lufft has sadly passed away unexpectedly with loved ones, family and the entire community left heartbroken and in grievance, according to an online publication. Lufft was the first officer to hold the position of European Athletics General Secretary on a full-time basis, and he held that position from January 1996 to November 2005. He was responsible for significant growth in the organization during the ten years he was the chief executive officer, both in terms of personnel and activities, and he oversaw the relocation of the European Athletics headquarters from Darmstadt, Germany to its current location in Lausanne, Switzerland.
In addition to assisting with the delivery of the European Athletics Championships in Budapest in 1998 and Munich in 2002, he was also responsible for significant growth in the organization during the ten years he was the chief executive officer. Lufft was the general secretary of the German University Sports Federation for more than 20 years, beginning in 1974 and continuing through 1995, before he became a member of European Athletics. He continued to be active in collegiate athletics throughout his whole life, and even into his late 70s, he served as the Technical Delegate for Athletics for the FISU (International University Sports Federation).
Lufft was born in Zurich, Switzerland on December 19, 1940. He spent his childhood in the city of Braunschweig, Germany, before attending the University of Gottingen to study law. While there, he won the championship for the 3000 meter steeplechase competition at the German universities level in 1966. He was also a great hockey player and cross-country skier. He played in the top flight of German hockey for BTHC Braunschweig, and after moving to Damstadt to finish his legal studies in 1970, he was a member of the ASC Darmstadt team that won the German cross country skiing team relay title in 1974.
In addition, he was a member of the ASC Darmstadt team that won the German cross country skiing individual title in 1974. Dobromir Karamarinov, the president of European Athletics, was one of the many people who knew Lufft and paid respect to him after his passing. Till was a significant player in the growth and modernisation of athletics in Europe, and he played a vital role in both of these processes. “During his term as General Secretary, his vision and skill helped build European Athletics as one of the top continental sports federations,” Karamarinov noted.
“His vision and talent helped develop European Athletics as one of the top continental sports federations.” “He will be remembered not just for his organizational and professional talents, but also for his kind demeanor and his passion of our sport. This will ensure that he is not forgotten.” After he retired, he was always a very welcome visitor at all of our activities, and he will be sorely missed by all of us who had the pleasure of knowing him. Athletics across Europe is in mourning over his passing.