Thank you for allowing me write a farewell address on the occasion of the end of the term of presidency of Gudrun Doll-Tepper.

I have served ICS(S)PE in various positions since the early sixties and I had the privilege to have known personally all of the presidents. Undoubtedly, Gudrun Doll-Tepper has done marvelous work during her terms of office. To paraphrase Frank Sinatra's song "She did it her way", with a lot of perspicacity, diplomacy and perseverance.

I remember that in the fall of 1996, when the presidency of Paavo Komi was coming to an end, I received a message from Gudrun who informed me that she would like to talk to me during her stay at a seminar on adapted physical education to be held at the Katholieke Universiteit (KU), Leuven. We met shortly afterwards in the cafetaria of the KU Leuven. Gudrun asked me for advice as to her candidature for the position of President of ICSSPE. I had known Gudrun for several years and I had great esteem for her professional knowledge and humanitarian engagement in the field of sports at large. Moreover, I told her that I supported wholeheartedly the idea that ICSSPE would have a woman as president. Hence my advice was very positive. At that time I had myself already decided to resign from my position of ICSSPE Vice-President for Scientific Affairs, because I believed that after more than 35 years with ICSSPE, the time had come to retire from office in this international organisation.

You may understand that from that moment on I was not anymore directly involved in ICSSPE. I did keep track of the main activities and I must say that I greatly admired the dynamic and diplomatic leadership of Gudrun. I realise however, that an effective farewell address does not happen in a blink of an eye. It would have been easier and more eloquent for me to write such an address if I had been more closely involved in ICSSPE affairs during the last decade. It is certainly proper and it is beyond doubt to say that Gudrun has achieved quite a lot during her mandate as ICSSPE President. She had the right feeling for building bridges in the changing world of sport. These changes are reflected in our present day society, where emphasis is laid on more opportunities for women, children and young people, people with disabilities, ageing persons, and a constant fight against discrimination of all kinds.

Kind personal regards,
Marcel

Special Note: "My Way" – to describe Gudrun’s terms of office.

Co-written by Paul Anka & Frank Sinatra
As performed by Frank Sinatra
Hit # 27 on the Top 40 charts in 1969

And now, the end is near, and so I face, the final curtain.
My friend, I'll say it clear,
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.
I've lived, a life that's full, I've traveled each and every highway.
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets, I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention.
I did, what I had to do, and saw it through, without exemption.
I planned, each charted course, each careful step, along the byway,
and more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew,
When I bit off, more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up, and spit it out.
I faced it all, and I stood tall,
and did it my way.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried,
I've had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing.
To think, I did all that, and may I say --- not in a shy way,
"Oh no, oh no not me,
I did it my way".

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things, he truly feels,
And not the words, of one who kneels.
The record shows, I took the blows ---
And did it my way!

I did it my way