FERNANDO COMPTE
REST IN PEACE
The Founder and Father of FIAS (Federation International Amateur Sambo) Fernando Compte has sadly died. Fernando took Sambo from being just a Sport of the old Soviet Union to a World Wide Sport. It was in Madrid (Spain) June 13, 1984 that Fernando started and organised the inaugural meeting of FIAS and Great Britain was part of the first ever Committee with Bert Jacobs from the British Wrestling Association serving as a member. In 1986 the British Sombo Federation was formed by Martin Clarke the current Chairman, he served in several postions on FIAS as Treasurer and European President. Yet none of this would have happened without Fernando Compte. Fernando was an extremely generous and likeable person, always immaculately dressed. The test of his generosity came when the BSF organised the World Championships in Herne Bay Kent, one of the teams a large one, left without paying entry fee, hotel and travel. The BSF was left to pay all of this as the event had been a financial loss it was me Martin Clarke who was expected to pay the hefty bill, Fernando saw that I was upset and paid the bill out of his own pocket.
I will remember Fernando with great affection and great respect, a good friend. An icon in the World of International Sport.
REST IN PEACE Fernando Compte our prayers go out to his family
Martin Clarke
BSF Chairman
