International Sports Career
Balck also became involved in the emerging international sports movement at the end of the 19th century. In 1894 he became one of the original members of International Olympic Committee (IOC), and was one of two vice presidents of the Swedish Olympic Committee from 1913 to his death in 1928. He was also one of the leading figures behind the Nordic Games which were arranged from 1901.
Already in 1894 in IOC, Balck had proposed Stockholm as a venue for the Olympic Games. The official application to arrange the games came in 1908, and despite strong competition from Berlin, Stockholm were chosen to host the 1912 Summer Olympics with Balck a prominent member of the national organising committee.
He was also a president of the International Skating Union from 1894 and 1924. His ice skating career also included the construction of the "Balck skate".
In recognition of his international sports career, Balck was made an honorary KCMG, and was thereafter able to style himself as Viktor Balck, KCMG.
Read more about this topic: Viktor Balck
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