Octavian Morariu receives the French National Order of Merit in rank of Knight

The former President of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee, Octavian Morariu, on Tuesday received a decoration from the French State, namely the National Order of Merit in rank of Knight, from the hands of the French Ambassador in Bucharest, who said that the former Romanian athlete has celebrated ‘the Olympic values’ all throughout his career, Agerpres informs.

The French Ambassador, Francois Saint-Paul reminded during the ceremony held at his residence in the Romanian capital about Morariu’s career as a sportsman, coach, and also as leader of the highest Olympic forums in Romania. […] The diplomat also referred to the common values shared by Romania and France — which he named Octavian Morariu’s “second home.”

In his turn, Octavian Morariu, the President of Rugby Europe, reminded about the beginnings of his sports career, about his parents who were also professional athletes and about the education institutions he attended. ‘The sports values are universal values: solidarity, respect, fair-play, excellence, courage, tenacity and perseverance,’ said Morariu.

Participating in the ceremony held at the headquarters of the French Ambassadors in Bucharest were also, among others, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Gabriela Szabo, and the Senate Speaker, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu.

Octavian Morariu has double citizenship, Romanian and French. He practiced rugby, playing for Grivita Rosie and ASPTT Paris, but also for Romania’s national team. After giving up his career as a player, Morariu coached the Paris Saint-Germain rugby team.

After he returned in the country, Octavian Morariu was elected President of the Romanian Rugby Federation in 2001 and in 2004 he was elected Vice President of the FIRA-AER, today Rugby Europe. As of July 2013, Morariu is President of Rugby Europe and members in the World Rugby Council, where he is an active member in the committees on governance and the one on regions.

Between 2003 and 2004, he was President of the National Agency for Sports and between 2004 and 2014 he was President of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee.

As of September 2013, Octavian Morariu became permanent member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), being also a member of the committees on international relations and Olympic schedule.