The Somali Olympic family wakes up this morning to the shocking news of the death of the governing body’s vice president Haji Abdi Elmi Warsame who passed away on Thursday in Malaysia after short illness.

Somali Olympic Committee president Duran Farah, on behalf of all Somali Olympic family and sports community has expressed his shock and sorrow after the death of yet another prominent Somali Olympic official in this year.

“ I was deeply saddened to hear the death of the vice president Haji abdi who has worked and contributed tirelessly to the development of the sports in our country, our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time” said the president .

“Somali Olympic Committee has lost a visionary and icon that has done so much for Somali sports, he has been a leader for many years, contributed to the success of Somali Olympic Family and his contributions will be hugely appreciated” concluded the statement of the president.

Haji Abdi Elmi has begun his sporting career as a footballer and later become international football referee, he has been influential throughout his career about the growth of sports in Somalia predominantly after the collapse of the national government in 1990 and was elected as the vice president of Somali Olympic Committee in 2009.