IPC says Good-Bye to its "Fishing and Singing Treasurer"
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For the IPC’s Treasurer André Auberger, the selection of a host city for the Paralympic Games has unique implications. The crucial question is, if there are fishing grounds near by the Paralympic city, which he would visit frequently before the Games. André Auberger, the man of numbers, calculations and of saving, is also a passionate fisherman and likes to combine this hobby with his more serious task of watching over the organization’s finances. His achievements as treasurer are equal to his success as a fisherman: In 1997, he caught a Blue Marlin of 221 kg, as his colleague in the IPC Management Committee, François Terranova, recalls.
André Auberger from Chambray-Les-Tours in France is a man of the IPC’s first hours. He was elected Treasurer in 1989 and stayed in this position for twelve years. It is thanks to him that the IPC was able to build up a solid financial plan and has been able to have a considerable budget at its disposal. His friends call him “L’Auvergnat” according to the area where he originally comes from and where people are known for their thrift.
Auberger looked after the IPC’s finances with great care and determination and with the assistance of Gérard Masson. In 1998, he started to transfer the day-to-day operations of the finance department to the IPC Headquarters in Bonn. This was not an easy transition, as there seem to be worlds between the financial systems of Germany and France.
In sport for athletes with a disability, Auberger can proudly look back on great achievements: At the time, when he was a Paralympic athlete at the Arnhem Games in 1980 himself, he had already set up several sporting associations for athletes with a disability. He has been Chef de Mission or Chef of the French delegation at Paralympic Games eight times in a row since 1984. In 1992, he was Co-President of the Organizing Committee of the Winter Paralympic Games in Tignes-Albertville. Today, Auberger serves as President of the French National Paralympic Committee, the “Fédération Française Handisport”.
The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of France also utilizes Auberger’s financial expertise. He has been Treasurer of the French NOC since 1993. In addition, Auberger was Deputy Mayor of his hometown Chambray-Les-Tours from 1989 until this year.
Despite all these voluntary commitments, André Auberger does not forget the importance of the French “Savoir Vivre”, the art of living. His hospitality at the “French Club” at Paralympic Games is well-known to all, who cherish the French cuisine and good wine. After a good dinner, Auberger sometimes provides the entertainment himself. Besides being a good storyteller, he is a passionate singer. His performance of the Australian classic “Waltzing Matilda” (of course with a French accent) was an unforgettable moment at the Sydney Paralympic Games.
As a political leader of the IPC, Auberger has gained high respect of officials, politicians and athletes alike. Beatrice Hess, a successful French swimmer, says about André Auberger: “He is an impartial personality and I always enjoy working with him. If he works, he solely concentrates on his tasks. But as soon as work is finished, he is usually very entertaining – all in good time.”
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IPC Welcomes New Member Organizations
As the highest body of the IPC, the IPC General Assembly ratified applications of 12 nation organizations to become members of the IPC. The total number of National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) with full membership in the IPC now amounts to 159 worldwide.
The following nations have been ratified by the General Assembly and are now full members:
Andorra, Central African Republic, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Lao, Lesotho, Mauritania, Mongolia, Rwanda and Uzbekistan
We welcome all new NPCs and are looking forward to a fruitful cooperation in order to enhance and improve the Paralympic Movement and sport for athletes with a disability. We would also like to encourage neighboring NPCs of the new members to assist them in their development. |
