Martin Lam, the first Secretary General of World Boccia and a co-founder, offers a personal tribute to David Hadfield, the founding President of World Boccia, who died last week, aged 73.
I cannot adequately describe the deep sadness I felt when Susan messaged me about David’s passing.
I had spoken to David just two weeks ago and knew his condition was not good, yet I still find it difficult to accept this tragic news.
I first met David in the Boccia Lounge at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. He shared his plan to establish an independent governing body for the sport of Boccia and mentioned that he needed someone from Asia to advocate for his vision in the Asia region.
Inspired by his passion and enthusiasm, I accepted his invitation on the spot.
A few months later, during a layover in Amsterdam on my way to a business meeting in Europe, David flew out to meet me. We spent a few hours at the Airport CitizenM Hotel mapping out the preliminary way forward.
David Hadfield
It was no easy task. However, combining the expert knowledge of the sport of Joaquim Viegas – the former Vice President of BISFed and Honorary Vice President of World Boccia – with David’s vision and determination, we successfully developed the blueprint for a new international Boccia organisation during a competition in Portugal.
The formal Board was inaugurated in Beijing during the 1st Boccia World Championships, with David elected as the Founding President, Joaquim as Founding Vice President, and myself as Founding Secretary General.
Subsequent Board retreats were organised in London, supported by the British Paralympic Association, to formulate BISFed’s Strategic Development Plan, Competition Pathway, Operations Manual, Financial Model, Coach/Referee Education Courses, Classification Manual, and Anti-Doping Policy.
All of this was made possible through David’s vision and his openness to diverse perspectives.
David was a man of foresight, warmth, diplomacy, and enduring optimism. He was also full of humor.
I fondly remember when he was asked to perform at the Farewell Dinner of the 2017 Regional Championships in Hong Kong—he stepped onto the stage with an umbrella and sang “Singing in the Rain” (pictured above in main image).
David Hadfield
David was a true leader in Para sport.
He will be deeply missed across the entire World Boccia family.
As a beloved friend and partner in the development of Boccia, I pay my highest tribute to the enduring legacy he leaves behind.
Rest in peace, my dear friend.
Martin Lam
