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Mario Hopenhaym (Uruguay)
Born on March 08, 1926, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Passed away on May 07, 2016, at the age of 90.
Nationality:
Uruguay

Enshrined as a technical official in the FIBA Hall of Fame on September 12, 2007.

Highlights

  • Began playing basketball: 1941
  • Started his career as a referee of the Uruguayan Basketball Federation: 1955
  • Refereed a total of 23 Uruguayan championships in the Senior and Junior categories: 1955-1984
  • International referee: 1963-1984
  • Called in 2 Olympic Games: Tokyo 1964 and Mexico 1968
  • Refereed in the Montevideo 1967 World Championships for Men
  • Called in the 1966 Invitational World Tournament in Santiago de Chile
  • Refereed in 2 World Championships for Women: São Paulo 1971 and Colombia 1975
  • Called in many other international tournaments and championships (first non-European referee to call in a European Championship -Moscow 1965-)
  • Director of the Uruguayan Training School of Referees: 1971-1992
  • FIBA International Referee Instructor: 1981-2005 (59 clinics in total)
  • President of the Technical Commission of the Uruguayan Basketball Federation since 1984
  • Member of the Technical Commission of FIBA: 1984-2006
  • Named President of the Technical Commission of COPABA (current FIBA Americas): 1992
  • Technical Commissioner in 4 consecutive Olympic Games: Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004
  • Technical Commissioner in many other international tournaments and championships

Distinctions & Recognitions

  • In 1984, upon his retirement, FIBA named him Honorary Referee
  • FIBA Order of Merit in 2006
  • Named Honorary Member of FIBA Americas in 2006