12.10.2011 Emanuel Katsadakis was awarded with the Olympic order at the venue of the world fencing championship in Catania Palagiaccio. The ceremony proceeded in between the first medal ceremonies of the championship in the full Pallaghiaccio stadium. The Olympic Order is the highest award of the Olympic Movement. Emanuel Katsakidis devoted his life to sport when he begin his career in athletic area. Soon he passed to the fencing and he became very successful on the national level. He became the Greece champion in foil. After his athletic career he stayed with fencing as an official of his federation and his career as a referee. Very soon he became the member of the referee commission of the FIE and in 2001 he became the president of the referee commision. His friends call him the last romantic of the sport. It is based on the fact that Emanuel Katsadakis love the sport in its nature. He love the way the fencing and other „minor“ sports are clean from the doping and machinations caused by the lust for the money as witnessed in the „big commercial sports“. The Olympic Order was given to him for his undying dedication and his questionless contribution in the various areas of sport.
European fencing family would like to express the gratitude and congratulations!
