Editing Sepp Blatter (section)

== Early life ==
Blatter was born in [[Visp]] in the Swiss [[Valais|canton of Valais]] with the given name of ''Josef''. He studied in [[Saint-Maurice, Switzerland|Saint Maurice]], before getting a degree in business and economics from the [[University of Lausanne]] in 1959. Blatter has had a long and varied career, including posts such as head of public relations for the tourist board of his native canton, as well as general secretary of the [[Schweizerischer Eishockeyverband|Swiss Ice Hockey Federation]].

Blatter was Director of Sports Timing and Relations of [[Longines]] S.A., and was involved in the organization of the [[1972 Summer Olympics|1972]] and [[1976 Summer Olympics|1976]] [[Olympic Games]].<ref name="Hubbard">{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/korea-move-is-a-blow-for-blatter-686063.html | work=The Independent | location=London | title=Korea move is a blow for Blatter | first=Alan | last=Hubbard | date=27 May 2001 | access-date=23 May 2010 | archive-date=13 December 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213005122/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/korea-move-is-a-blow-for-blatter-686063.html | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/worldcup06/2006/06/29/wrong_again.html | work=The Guardian | location=London | access-date=23 May 2010 | title=Wrong again | date=19 August 2008 | archive-date=29 June 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629062249/http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/worldcup06/2006/06/29/wrong_again.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/homegrown-revolution-1403718.html | work=Irish Independent | first=Daniel | last=McDonnell | title=Home-grown revolution | date=10 June 2008 | access-date=31 October 2008 | archive-date=9 July 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709211836/http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/homegrown-revolution-1403718.html | url-status=live }}</ref>