Fidel Mendoza

Fidel Mendoza was a physician who specialized in internal medicine after earning his medical degree at the National University of Bogota in 1953. He served as a physician for the Colombian Air Force for 26 years and worked for the Colombian Institute for Social Security. He was also chief of staff of the Secretariat of Public Health in Bogota.

In his youth he played both baseball and softball and he started his career in sports administration in those sports. He was the founder and first President of the Baseball League of Bogota from 1969-79. He later served as President of the Colombian National Olympic Committee (1979-89), as treasurer of the Pan American Sports Organization (1983-92), and as secretary-general and treasurer of the Bolivarian Sports Organization (Organización Deportiva Bolivariana / ODEBO) (1980-2006). Mendoza was an IOC Member from 1988-2006 and was then made an Honorary Member. During his tenure he was on the Medical Commission and the Commission for the International Olympic Academy.