Munich mourns Norbert Stellmach, long-serving chairman of the city's sports advisory board

Norbert Stellmach, the former long-serving chairman of the City of Munich's sports advisory board and a holder of the city's Golden Ring of Honour, has died. Lord Mayor Dominik Krause has sent his condolences to Mr Stellmach's wife, saying that with his death Munich has lost an outstanding figure who devoted decades of exceptional commitment to sport in the city.

Mr Stellmach was closely associated with ESV Neuaubing for almost seven decades and played a decisive part in shaping the club's development. He served as its president for many years and later as honorary president, and also worked as a coach. According to the Lord Mayor, supporting young athletes was particularly close to his heart, and he saw sport as an important part of social cohesion and a way of bringing together people of different generations and backgrounds.

As well as chairing the city's sports advisory board for many years, he held various roles in the Bavarian Sports Association, championing the interests of sport in Munich. The city awarded him the Golden Ring of Honour in 1996, a distinction given to people who have made an exceptional contribution to sport in Munich. In 2008 his life's work was also recognised with the Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon.

"Norbert Stellmach demonstrated impressively what voluntary commitment can achieve," Mr Krause wrote, adding that his energy, reliability and enthusiasm for sport had accompanied generations of people and lastingly enriched club life in Munich.

On behalf of the city and personally, the Lord Mayor offered his sincere sympathy to Mr Stellmach's wife and family, wishing them strength, comfort and confidence in this difficult time. He said the City of Munich would honour Norbert Stellmach's memory with gratitude.