Kriz, who died in his home town of Prague, spent 15 years as chairman of FIL Sport Commission between 1973 and 1988.

This came at the pivotal time for the sport shortly after its Olympic debut at Innsbruck 1964, orchestrating the development of singles and doubles events

During this time, Kriz's own Czechoslovakia did not win an Olympic medal, but sent multiple competitors to the Games.

The official was awarded honorary membership of the world governing body in 2003 at the FIL Congress in Davos, Switzerland.

In a short statement posted on their website, the FIL "mourned" the death of the former official.

His precise cause of death is not yet clear.