Primo Nebiolo

Primo Nebiolo was an active athlete in his young days, competing in sprints and long jump at the Liceo Ginnasio Cavour of Torino, before moving to the G.U.F. Club (Gruppi Universitari Fascisti). However, World War II interrupted his sporting activities. Nebiolo was arrested by the Nazis in 1944 but escaped from prison and joined the partisan forces in the Monferrato region. In the post-war period he competed in athletics until 1950, but still graduated with degrees in law and political science, before becoming a building contractor.

Nebiolo became President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU). From 1969-89 he was the President of the Italian Athletics Federation. He was a member of the IAAF council starting in 1972 and was President from 1981 until his death, He served as President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) from 1983 and was made a member of the IOC in 1992.

As president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF, now World Athletics), he oversaw its restructuring as well as the introduction of the World Championships, beginning in 1983. His term as President ended when he died from a heart attack in November 1999 at 76-years-old.