European handball mourns the death of Alexander Toncourt
European handball mourns the death of Alexander Toncourt
The Viennese, Austrian and European handball family joined family and friends in Vienna today, Monday 14 May 2012, to say farewell and pay tribute to Ali Toncourt, Assistant Secretary General of the European Handball Federation.
Ali, as he was best know to his friends, passed away in Vienna on 1 May 2012 following a long and brave battle with illness. He was 52 years old.
Representing the EHF were President, Tor Lian, Vice President, Jean Brihault, Treasurer, Ralf Dejaco and Chairman of the Competitions Commission, Jan Tuik as well as numerous other comission members and colleagues from the EHF Office. National federations from around Europe were also represented.
Amongst the speakers were Tor Lian and Michael Wiederer, EHF Secretary General, a former team-mate and close friend of Ali’s for over 35 years. Former IHF President, and President of FIVERS WAT Magaraten, Erwin Lanc, also paid tribute to Ali.
Ali began his handball career with WAT Magareten (now FIVERS WAT Magareten) in Vienna’s fifth district as a line player, helping them to earn promotion to the Austrian first division in 1982 and to the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1984 against Baia Mare.
He became the first professional manager of a handball club in Austria in 1987, before becoming Secretary General of the Austrian Handball Federation, where he received many plaudits for the highly successful organisation of the World Championship in Austria in 1992.
Ali joined the EHF in 1994 as Assistant Secretary General of the EHF. From 2000 to 2008 he was also a member of the International Handball Federation’s Organisation and Competition’s Commission.
The EHF, together with all of Ali’s friends and colleagues in the EHF Office, would like to express their deepest condolences to Ali’s wife, Ingrid, to his family and to his many friends throughout the European and international handball world.
