Eugenio Brunetta d'Usseaux | |
|---|---|
| Count ofUsseaux | |
.jpg) Eugenio Brunetta d'Usseaux in 1909 | |
| Born | (1857-12-14)14 December 1857 Vercelli,Piedmont, Italy |
| Died | 8 January 1919(1919-01-08) (aged 61) France |
Eugenio Brunetta d'Usseaux (14 December 1857 – 8 January 1919) was an Italian nobleman and member of theInternational Olympic Committee.
Eugenio Brunetta d'Usseaux was born on the 14 December 1857, inVercelli, and was educated inTurin.[1] His father, the count Carlo Augusto Brunetta d'Usseaux was a high-ranking official of theRoyal Sardinian Army, headquartered in the same city.[2] His mother, CarolinaMattone diBenevello, also came from an Italian noble family, and was related to the familyValperga since seven centuries before, known forBoniface of Valperga.
At the end of his studies in the exclusive Nobles College located in the modern Academy of Science of Turin, Brunetta married Ekaterina Alexandrovna Zeyffart (1859-1897), alandowner of enormous plots inUkraine, whose family had close ties to theImperial family. The couple lived in Torino and in Paris.[3]
After the early death of his wife began devoting himself to sports organizing.[3] Himself an active rower and rider, the count was very interested in sports, and was in Paris that he met with BaronPierre de Coubertin interested to him, for the reinstatement of theOlympic Games. His engagement for the sports (ideals) was so very close to him, that in 1897 Brunetta d'Usseauxbecome member of theInternational Olympic Committee (IOC), which he remained until his death, asgeneral secretary since 1902.[4] Till the 21st century, he was the only Italian person recovering this charge.
He succeeded in bringing the1908 Summer Olympics to Rome, but Italy had to forfeit the organization of the Olympics in 1906, due to financial and organisational problems. The 1908 Games were held in London instead. That same year, he tried to get winter sports on the Olympic programme, and suggested to have a separate winter sports week attached to the1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm.[5] This was opposed by the Swedish organizers, but Brunetta d'Usseaux managed to get a winter sports week scheduled for 1916. Due toWorld War I, these Olympics were never organized.[5]
The count died, under unclear circumstances,[6] in France in 1919, and would not live to see the firstWinter Olympic Games in 1924, maybe inNice.[7] At that time, he would to come in Russia for acknowledging the family of his wife, after the start ofRussian Revolution.
He was appointed asBailiff of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.[citation needed]
