The former paraathlete and long-time official Karl Quade is dead. He died on Boxing Day at the age of 71 after a serious illness, as the German Disabled Sports Association (DBS) announced, citing Quade’s family. “With him we are losing a passionate source of inspiration and a convinced supporter of the Paralympic idea,” said DBS President Hans-Jörg Michels about Quade, who was also referred to as “Mr. Paralympics”.
Quade was “a proven expert with an extraordinary range of knowledge, but always authentic, warm and personable,” said Michels. DBS Honorary President Friedhelm Julius Beucher said that Quade, as a face, had played a key role in shaping the Paralympic movement in Germany.
Gold winner and Chef de Mission
Quade first took part in the Summer Paralympics in New York in 1984 with the German national team in stand volleyball and won the silver medal. Four years later in Seoul, the team won gold.
Even after the end of his active career, he was involved in competitive sports. In 1996, at the Games in Atlanta, he took on the role of Chef de Mission for the German team for the first time. He also served as Vice President of the DBS for more than 30 years.
