Marino Ercolani Casadei served as EWF secretary general from 1991 to 2016 ©CONS

Former European Weightlifting Federation (EWF) secretary general Marino Ercolani Casadei has died at the age of 82.

The Sammarinese official spent more than 60 years in sports administration, and was awarded the Pierre de Coubertin Medal by the International Olympic Committee in 2003.

He was honoured at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Congress in Bogotá earlier this month with the Golden Collar, which the organisation said was "testimony of how much Marino has given everything to sport and how much the world of sport has appreciated his commitment, his sporting culture and his solid and stainless ethics."

Casadei had already been inducted into the IWF Weightlifting Hall of Fame in 2004, and received a Gold Collar from the EWF in 2016.

The former weightlifter and judoka was best known in his capacity as EWF secretary general and treasurer from 1991 to 2016, and was credited by the continental body with "the development of sports in San Marino, including judo, gymnastics, wrestling, and athletics".

"The European Weightlifting Federation extends its heartfelt condolences to Mr Casadei’s family, the San Marino Weightlifting Federation, and loved ones," a statement read.

"Marino will be sorely missed, and the weightlifting family will remember him with love and respect."

Marino Ercolani Casadei has been credited with
Marino Ercolani Casadei has been credited with "the development of sports in San Marino, including judo, gymnastics, wrestling, and athletics" ©Getty Images

Casadei led the San Marino Gymnastics Federation, what is now the San Marino Wrestling, Weightlifting, Judo and Associated Disciplines Federation, and the San Marino Athletics Federation during his career.

He served on the Sammarinese National Olympic Committee (CONS) Executive Committee from 1981 to 1984.

The CONS declared that "his commitment to San Marino sport is a legacy that the whole movement will keep for a long time".

Casadei additionally served on the Board of the Italian Weightlifting and Judo Federation, and received the Gold Star for Sporting Merit from the Italian National Olympic Committee.

He accompanied San Marino's judoka at the Moscow 1980 Olympics, then served as a weightlifting international technical official at the following three Games.

Casadei wrote several weightlifting-related books and articles, and had a large stamp collection with a particular focus on the sport.