In Memoriam – Hasan Ibrić (1960–2025)

It is with deep sadness that we announce that our friend and long-time colleague Hasan Ibrić passed away on June 21, 2025, at the age of 65, following a serious illness. Hasan was a Taekwon-Do master, sports official, educator, and a highly respected member of the sports community and the president of the Slovenian CSIT partner association UADŠS. In our sport community we have lost an exceptional leader, co-worker and organizer – but above all, we have lost a beautiful human being. His efforts and work have left an indelible mark on our sports community. Rest in peace, Hasan. Your smile, your spirit, and your legacy will remain with us always.

Hasan Ibrić was not just an organizer or official. He was also a devoted husband and family man. He was especially proud of his daughter, Tamara, and supported her passionately in every step of her journey – always her biggest fan. Beyond his remarkable professional achievements, those who had the privilege of knowing Hasan Ibrić will remember him as a warm, kind-hearted person, always smiling, always willing to help, and always treating others with sincere friendship and respect. He was a person who knew how to listen to athletes and advocate for equal opportunities for all.

Master Ibrić was one of the most respected pioneers of Taekwon-Do in the Balkan region. He was a co-founder of the Slovenian Taekwon-Do Association in 1991, contributing to the development of the discipline in both Slovenia and Croatia. Since 2001, he served as the Secretary General of the Slovenian Taekwon-Do Association, guiding its growth with wisdom and dedication.

Ibrić was instrumental in organizing major international events, such as the European Taekwon-Do Championships 2012 and 2018 in Maribor, Slovenia, 2022 European Taekwon-Do Championships in Porec, Croatia and numerous tournaments under the Slovenian Taekwon-Do Association. Most recently, he was a key member of the Organizing Committee for the upcoming 2025 Taekwon-Do World Championships in Poreč, Croatia.

He was the longtime secretary of the Sports Association of Celje, a coach, club president, and the initiator of numerous sports projects. His life and work were inseparably linked with the athletic development of the city on the Savinja River. For decades, Ibrić helped shape the sports landscape of Celje. In addition to serving as secretary of the city’s umbrella sports association, a role he fulfilled with remarkable dedication, he was also deeply involved in the Slavko Šlander Sports Club – first as a coach and later as its president.

His efforts extended beyond the local level. He was an active member of the Expert Council for Sport at the Sports Foundation and made a significant contribution to the development of Slovenian taekwondo. In 2016, he participated in the historical overview of Celje’s sports. He was one of the key individuals involved in the creation of a monograph marking the 125th anniversary of sports in Celje, which compiles the city’s rich sport ing heritage.

He was one of the initiators and co-founder of ZZBŠS (Martial Arts Federation of Slovenia) in 2010, where he was a longtime Secretary General. With his diligent, dedicated and visionary work Federation was growing to include also other amateur sports in Slovenia.  Federation joint CSIT in 2012 and was through it’s growth transformed to UADŠS (Union of Amateur and Working Sports of Slovenia) in 2018, where he served as a president in recent years.