The international sporting fraternity mourns the death of HRH the Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbón, the former president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).
The Infanta, who practiced equestrian sports in her youth, was President of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) from 1994 to 2006, a role that led her to becoming an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member in Spain between 1996 and 2006.
Well known for her charitable work, she was also actively involved in a number of charities, including the Red Cross, Friends of the Monasteries, Foundation for the Defence of Life, Nuevo Futuro, Action Aid, and the Foundation for Investigation and Training in Oncology.
IOC President Bach paid tribute to HRH the Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbón as, “an extraordinary personality in the worldwide Olympic Movement. In everything she did, her great passion for sport always shone through. I will always remember her as a kind and warm-hearted friend, who was guided by the Olympic Values with an unwavering commitment to promoting the role of sport in society,” he said.
Doña Pilar de Borbón was the older sister of former King of Spain Juan Carlos I, and aunt of the King of Spain and Olympic athlete, Felipe VI.
A member of the IOC Sport and Environment Commission between 1999 and 2006 and honorary member of the IOC since 2006, Pilar de Borbón also served the Olympic Movement as an Executive Board member of the Spanish National Olympic Committee and Honorary President of the Spanish Equestrian Federation.
Between 2007 and 2009, she chaired the pan-European Federation for Cultural Heritage, “Europa Nostra”, constituted to preserve Europe’s cultural and natural heritage.
As a mark of respect the Olympic flag is flying at half-mast at the IOC headquarters.
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