Giordano Bruno Fabjan

Born in Trieste, Giordano Bruno Fabjan graduated in economics and commerce from Cattolica University of Milano, and he was among the leading figures in Italian mountaineering in the 1920s and 30s. Along with Leonardo Emilio Comici, Italy’s top climbing talent between the World Wars, Fabjan took on and conquered some of the most important challenges in Italian climbing history, including the North Face of the Cima di Riofreddo (1928), the northwestern wall of the Sorella di Mezzo in the Sorapis group (1929), and the Punta di Frida (1934).

Fabjan later turned to sports administration, filling some important roles in Italian sports federations. From 1939-43 he was Secretary of the Italian Golf Federation, and later worked with winter sports, tennis, and canoe. In 1946 at Milano Fabjan organized the first Congress for the unification of Italian sports, and two weeks after the conclusion of the 1956 Winter Olympics he was appointed deputy secretary-general of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) by the president, Giulio Onesti. Fabjan had been general secretary of the 1956 Cortina Games. From 1948 through 1972 he led the Italian delegation at various Winter and Summer Olympics.

Fabjan played a significant role, with the collaboration of Giuseppe Sabelli Fioretti, in the production if the Official Report of the 1956 Winter Games. The near 800-page publication became a point of reference for every subsequent Winter Olympic Games due to its rich content and elegant design. It was not printed and distributed until 1964, two years after the Official Report on the Roma Summer Games of 1960.

When the Central School of Sport was founded in Roma in 1966 Fabjan was one of its teachers who were among the most authoritative figures in the world of science, organization, and communication.

After 39 years with CONI, Fabjan retired in 1973. During his time with CONI he continued as a freelance writer, displaying his talent with such newspapers as “La Gazzetta dello Sport,” and “Corriere dello Sport,” as well as magazines such as “Derby,” “Golf,” and “Neve e Ghiaccio.”

In October 1990, on the eve of his departure from Roma to South Tyrol to attend a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the death of Emilio Comici, Fabjan suffered a sudden and fatal heart attack.