Yuan Weimin

Yuan Weimin (simplified Chinese: 袁伟民; traditional Chinese: 袁偉民; pinyin: Yuán Wěimín; born July 8, 1939 in Suzhou, Jiangsu) is a Chinese sports administrator and civil servant. He was the Executive President of the Beijing Organising Committee for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Yuan was selected for represent the Jangsu province in the volleyball completion for the first National Games in 1958 while studying for the Nanjing Sports Institute. In 1962, he joined the national volleyball team.

Cultural Revolution hit when he was at his peak. While he was not persecuted because of his peasant background was considered politically reliable at the time, his team members were sent home. Yuan spent much of the time studying volleyball coaching, without a team to coach. Yuan retired as a player in 1974 from the position of national team captain.

In 1976, Yuan was appointed the head coach of the women's national volleyball team. His task was to restore the team to the pre-Cultural Revolution-level. He did more than that, transforming a team from a 16 place finish in the 1974 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship to a super power, winning the 1981 World Cup, the 1982 world championship and the 1984 Olympic gold medal.

Yuan was introduced to the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2007.

...
Wikipedia