Georg von Opel

Georg von Opel was the grandson of Adam Opel, who founded the automobile company bearing the family name. Von Opel worked in the car industry in the US and Great Britain from 1929-32 where he developed an interest in rowing. He won seven national rowing titles, including the national championships of Canada (1933) and the United States (1934 in ¼-mile single sculls), and in 1934 made the finals of the Henley Regatta. He competed in many sports, including cycling, automobile and motorcycle racing, skiing, boxing, and tennis.

In sports administration von Opel co-founded and was President of the German Olympic Society (DOG), President of the German Shooting Federation, co-founded the German Sports Aid Federation, was Vice-President of the German Rowing Association, was a Vice-President of the International Leisure Association, and was a member of the German Olympic Committee. He also had a great interest in animals and was a member of the Committee for the Protection of Animals. Co-opted onto the IOC in April 1966, he served until his death in August 1971.