Alain Citolleux was the leader of a group of players taking the initiative to establish the current FFBA in 1978. He and his friends took badminton from next to nowhere with less than 2.000 players, laying the foundation of the present, dynamic organization with top ranked players, one of Europe's top competitions and a membership close to 200.000.
Alain Citolleux took badminton from being a committee under the tennis federation to independence and membership of the National Olympic Committee. Wisely, he left the position as Founder President to the chairman of the former organization to ensure a peaceful transition, but already in 1984 he was elected President, a position he held until 1988. Meanwhile, he had contributed in almost every area. He wrote the Federation Statutes, edited and mostly wrote the magazine, including sometimes daring comments from his alter ego, a cartoon cat named 'Catminton', initiated coach and umpire education courses and helped establish a professional administration in Paris in premises made available by his brother. Moreover, he served as a volunteer Technical Director, DTN, until he managed to convince the Ministry of Sport to allocate a seasoned professional, Gérard Morel, who could take our game further forward, to this job.
In his hometown Saumur in the Loire Valley, Alain Citolleux was Director of the Centre for Youth and Culture, and in the Sport Hall here he organised both training and regular competitions that were highly appreciated as well as many education courses. The regional organization, Ligue de Pays de la Loire, was also founded by Alain Citolleux and had him as the first President.
In recent years, Alain Citolleux served as a member of the very active FFBaD Commission Culture. Here he shared his lifelong experience of the history of French badminton with his colleagues and the world of badminton heritage enthusiasts - being himself a centerpiece of the history of French badminton.
Alain Citolleux will be remembered by his many friends in French and international badminton as a man of numerous initiatives and the ability to see them through as well as a gentle personality with a great sense of humour. Our condolences go to his family, in particular to his children Fabrice and Chrystel.
RIP, our friend Alain Citolleux.