German sports for the disabled mourn the loss of former paraathlete and long-time official Karl Quade. He died on Boxing Day at the age of 71 after a serious illness, as the German Disabled Sports Association (DBS) announced, citing Quade’s family.
“With him we are losing a passionate source of inspiration and a convinced supporter of the Paralympic idea. With great gratitude we will preserve his legacy and continue on the path he shaped,” said DBS President Hans-Jörg Michels about Quade, who was also known as “Mr. Paralympics”.
Quade was “a proven expert with an extraordinary range of knowledge, but always authentic, warm and personable,” Michels continued.
First successful as an active member, then a busy official
Quade first took part in the Summer Paralympics in New York in 1984 with the German national team in stand volleyball and won the silver medal. Four years later in Seoul he even celebrated gold.
Even after his active career ended, he remained closely connected to competitive sports. In 1996, at the Games in Atlanta, he took on the role of Chef de Mission for the German team for the first time. He also served as Vice President of the DBS for more than 30 years.
Honorary President Friedhelm Julius Beucher explained that Quade, as a face and with a heart, had played a key role in shaping the Paralympic movement in Germany. “His death shocks me deeply – we are losing an extraordinary person with unique knowledge, whose work remains both an obligation and an incentive for us.”