[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 150 (Thursday, December 7, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2151]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO JOHN T. GARNJOST

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRISTOPHER SHAYS

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 2000

  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of John T. Garnjost who 
became the 53rd American to receive the Olympic Order from the 
International Olympic Committee. On September 6, 2000 Mr. Garnjost 
traveled to Taipei Taiwan where he received the award for his 
contributions to the development of rowing in Chinese Taipei.
  The Olympic Order is ``the supreme individual honor accorded'' by the 
IOC. It was created in 1974 and is awarded to any person who has 
illustrated the Olympic Ideal through his action, has achieved 
remarkable merit in the sporting world, or has rendered outstanding 
services to the Olympic cause, either through his own personal 
achievement or his contribution to the development of sport.
  Mr. Garnjost was introduced to rowing during his college days at 
Columbia University where he decided to explore the sport as an 
official. Mr. Garnjost has been a rowing official in the United States 
since 1960, and was licensed as an international official in 1970. He 
officiated at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta in 1996 and has worked at 
the World Championships. Domestically, he has worked at the Olympic 
Trials and the U.S. Nationals.
  As the president of Bristol Meyers (Taiwan) from 1983 to 1989, he 
lived in the country and began introducing rowing in Taipei. 1983 
marked the first rowing demonstration at the annual Dragon Boat 
Festival in Taiwan. As an advisor to the Chinese Taipei Amateur Rowing 
Association, Mr. Garnjost served as a delegate to the 1983 
International Rowing Federation (FISA) Congress in Duisburg, Germany, 
where Chinese Taipei's application for membership was approved.
  Real progress was made in 1985 when FISA President Thomi Keller 
inspected the Tung Shan River as a possible rowing site. Today, there 
is an internationally proven rowing course, two FISA umpires and rowers 
throughout the country.
  Since the early days of rowing in Taipei, Mr. Garnjost has worked the 
Asian Rowing Championships in 1997. He also helped establish the annual 
I-Lan International Collegiate Invitational Regatta for crews from nine 
countries, helped bring the sport to two of Taiwan's major universities 
and was also instrumental in helping get significant funding for 
equipment.
  Thirteen years ago few in Taiwan knew of rowing as a sport. Today 
most of the nation can say they know the sport thanks to John Garnjost. 
He has been referred to as the ``Father of Rowing'' in Taiwan. His 
recent award and dedication to the sport and the people of Taiwan is a 
true testament to this title.

                          ____________________