Muhammed Taher Pasha (1879 – 29 January 1970; ) was an Egyptian doctor of political science, originally of Turkish origin, and the founder of the

Mediterranean Games The Mediterranean Games is a multi-sport event organised by the International Committee of Mediterranean Games (CIJM). It is held every four years among athletes from countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea in Africa, Asia and Europe. The fi ...

. He was the chairman of the

Egyptian Olympic Committee The Egyptian Olympic Committee (, abbreviated as EOC) is a non-profit organization serving as the National Olympic Committee of Egypt and a part of the International Olympic Committee. History The Egyptian Olympic Committee was founded during th ...

and also a member of the Executive Commission of the

International Olympic Committee The International Olympic Committee (IOC; , CIO) is the international, non-governmental, sports governing body of the modern Olympic Games. Founded in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas, it is based i ...

from 1952 to 1957. Taher Pasha convinced the National Olympic Committees of the Mediterranean countries

1948 Summer Olympics The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XIV Olympiad and officially branded as London 1948, were an international multi-sport event held from 29 July to 14 August 1948 in London, United Kingdom. Following a twelve-year hiatus cau ...

held in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

to create the

Taher Pasha Trophy

In 1950, he gifted the Taher Pasha Trophy to the

. The trophy is reserved for amateur athletes, regardless whether or not they compete in the

Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games (Olympics; ) are the world's preeminent international Olympic sports, sporting events. They feature summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a Multi-s ...

, whose general merits or career appear to warrant a particular distinction in the name of the Olympic ideals. Recipients of the trophy, which is not necessarily awarded every year, have included: * 1951: Paul Anspach (1882–1981), Belgian fencer * 1952:

Fanny Blankers-Koen Francina Elsje "Fanny" Blankers-Koen (; 26 April 191825 January 2004) was a Dutch track and field athlete, best known for winning four gold medals at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. She competed there as a 30-year-old mother of two, earning ...

, (1918–2004), Dutch athlete * 1953: Adhemar da Silva (1927–2001), Brazilian triple jumper * 1954:

Adolphe Jauréguy Adolphe Jauréguy (18 February 1898 – 4 September 1977) was a French rugby union player who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics. He was born in Ostabat-Asme and died in Toulouse. He played in nine Five Nations Championships: in 1920, ...

(1898–1977), French rugby union player * 1955:

Roger Bannister Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister (23 March 1929 – 3 March 2018) was an English neurologist and middle-distance athlete who ran the first sub- 4-minute mile. At the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Bannister set a British record in the 1500 metres and ...

(1929–2018), English middle-distance athlete * 1956:

Gert Fredriksson Gert Fridolf Fredriksson (21 November 1919 – 5 July 2006) was a Swedish sprint canoeist. Competing in four Summer Olympics, he won eight medals including six golds (1948: K-1 1000 m, K-1 10000 m; 1952: K-1 1000 m, 1956: K-1 1000 m, K-1 10000 m ...

(1919–2006), Swedish sprint canoeist * 1957:

John Landy John Michael Landy (12 April 1930 – 24 February 2022) was an Australian middle-distance runner and state governor. He was the second man to break the four-minute mile barrier in the mile run and held the world records for the 1500-metre run ...

(1930–2022), Australian middle-distance runner * 1960: Joaquín Blume (1933–1959), Spanish gymnast (posthumous award) * 1961: van de Wattyne, Belgian athlete * 1962: Phil Coleman (born 1931), American middle- and long-distance runner * 1963: :*

Iolanda Balaș Iolanda Balaș (, , later ''Balázs-Sőtér Jolán''; 12 December 1936 – 11 March 2016) was a Romanian athlete, an Olympic Games, Olympic champion and Women's high jump world record progression, former world record holder in the high jump. Sh ...

(1936–2016), Romanian athlete :*

Sjoukje Dijkstra Sjoukje Rosalinde Dijkstra (; 28 January 1942 – 2 May 2024) was a Dutch competitive figure skater. She was the 1964 Olympic champion in ladies' singles, the 1960 Olympic silver medalist, a three-time World champion (1962–1964), five-time ...

(born 1942), Dutch figure skater * 1965:

Sixten Jernberg Edy Sixten Jernberg, known as "Sixten", (6 February 1929 – 14 July 2012) was a Swedish cross-country skier and one of the most successful cross-country skiers of all time. Between 1952 and 1964 he took part in 363 ski races, finishing within ...

(1929–2012), Swedish cross-country skier * 1966:

Rodrigo de Castro Pereira Rodrigo de Castro Pereira () (22 July 1887 – 1983) was a Portuguese tennis player. He was a one-time Portuguese national singles champion in 1931 and also a one-time doubles title holder. He also won the CSIO Lisbon Equestrian Grand Prix in 1 ...

(1887–1983), Portuguese tennis player * 1967:

Eugenio Monti Eugenio Monti (23 January 1928 – 1 December 2003) was an Italian bobsledder and alpine skiing, alpine skier. He is one of the most successful athletes in the history of the bobsleigh, with ten FIBT World Championships, World championship me ...

(1928–2003), Italian bobsledder * 1971: New Zealand eight, the rowing team that won the eight event at the

1971 European Rowing Championships The 1971 European Rowing Championships were rowing championships held on Lake Bagsværd in the Danish capital Copenhagen. There were seven competitions for men and five for women, and the most successful nation was East Germany with five gold med ...

Notes

Egyptian people of Turkish descent Egyptian International Olympic Committee members Mediterranean Games 1879 births 1970 deaths Egyptian pashas 20th-century Egyptian diplomats {{Egypt-sport-bio-stub