Former Olympic president dies at 89

The former president of the International Olympic Committee Juan Antonio Samaranch has died at the age of 89 due to cardio-respiratory failure.

Samaranch died Wednesday in the Quiron hospital in his home town of Barcelona two days after being admitted with coronary problems.

"I cannot find the words to express the distress of the Olympic Family," the current IOC president Jacques Rogge said. "I am personally deeply saddened by the death of the man who built up the Olympic Games of the modern era, a man who inspired me, and whose knowledge of sport was truly exceptional."

"Thanks to his extraordinary vision and talent, Samaranch was the architect of a strong and unified Olympic Movement," he added. "I can only pay tribute to his tremendous achievements and legacy, and praise his genuine devotion to the Olympic Movement and its values. We have lost a great man, a mentor and a friend who dedicated his long and fulfilled life to Olympism."

Samaranch was born in 1920. He pursued a career as diplomat and sports administrator before leading the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for 21 years.

He had been appointed as the president of IOC in July 1980. Two turbulent decades during his term were marked by two boycotts in Moscow in 1980 and in Los Angeles in 1984.

Samaranch, however, managed to maintain the quality of the Games and increase the number of participating countries.

Developing TV rights, commercialism, and sponsorship negotiations were among other acclaims of this wise man.

Samaranch was appointed honorary life president of the IOC when he stepped down as president in July 2001.

The former IOC president suffered ill health for several years prior to his death.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124044§ionid=3510211.