He had a heart for sport, everyone will say that Hans Wilhelm Gäb experienced. He connected it to his spirit, you have to add if you want to do justice to the Rhinelander, born in Düsseldorf. A combination of ideas and enthusiasm for constructive things run through his life like a thread. But it did not say gently in a small circle, but certainly defensive that some things were not successful. Then he smiled so, the big serve was not his thing. What is difficult to understand in view of the career in sport: several German champions in table tennis several times, in doubles and with the team of Borussia Düsseldorf. His quick -wittedness led him to the national team. And through journalism in the middle of the world of automotive economy, initially to the board of Ford AG in Cologne, as a member for public relations and government contacts, then in the same function to Opel in Rüsselsheim, finally to the Vice President of General Motors Europe AG in Zurich. Because it was about performance, to survive art, attacks, power games. It is no coincidence that the sports journalist’s view of Hans Wilhelm gave the same result to the same result as that of the colleague from the Economy department: “Opel was at least as important to him as the sport, in both areas he was involved with heart and decency, but also with hard bandages, if he considered it necessary. Nobody was who had chosen bad words carelessly. ” It is all the more effective his reaction: In 1998, GAB was the chairman of the Supervisory Board of Opel AG in protest against the course of GM. There are a parallel in sports. Gab led the German table tennis association for a few years, his advice was in demand, from world-class athletes such as Timo Boll and previously from the institutions of German sport. He returned to the German Sports Aid Foundation as a board member and later as chairman of the Supervisory Board, which she had lost, and a role in German sports policy. Which did not stop him from returning the good piece. The approval of the Russians after the unveiled state doping for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio had angry. He spoke quietly, but he acted unmistakably, unmistakable. “He had the strongest inner compass I have ever experienced in sports policy, coupled with a special analytical, strategic communication competence,” wrote Michael Ilgner of the F.A.Z. On request. Until its output in 2020, the sports aid of the leading leadership of the German Olympic Sports Association, which was partly attacking at the time, and which undermined the values of the sport was repeatedly fore. “Hans Wilhelm Gäb,” added Illgner, “had the overview and strength of stirring with this compass, especially in crucial situations, without having to become loud, probably because he knew so sharply and clearly what he wanted. He thought far beyond the next step.” He opened doors. “” Sorry, Hans, does not go “three sentences that were searched for decades ago. As a successor to the charismatic West German sports guide Willi Daume should be at the head of the National Olympic Committee. An indiscretion of a serious illness is said to have prevented a solution for the benefit of sport. Gave a liver transplant – by 31 years. While he helped the sports aid to blossom, he founded the association “Athlete for Organ Donation” and Kio, the “Children’s Aid Organ Transplantation”. Not every size of German sport wanted to appear with the name and face for GAB. Some heroes of the arena appeared to wear an organ donation card in the breast pocket like a menetcle: “Sorry, Hans, does not work.” Incognito had strong support. But the list of openly confessed ranged from Franz Beckenbauer to Steffi Graf, Michael Schumacher to Timo Boll.Tod at the age of 89 and so two questions arise: What would have been honored, among other things with the Federal Cross of Merit and the inclusion in the Hall of Fame of German Sports for this? More than twenty years ago, he had an answer to one of the latest. When he explained in an interview with the “Welt” that the French were far ahead of the Germans in international sports policy thanks to their network; that sport and politics in the country would have to form a unity if they wanted to get progress. The recent summer games took place in Paris, the next few winter games are aligned with France. Hans Wilhelm Gäbs said goodbye to this world again, which has been lost. Last Sunday he died with his family at the age of 89.
Go to source