Juan Antonio Samaranch, Former International Olympic Committee President, Dies Aged 89

Former International Olympic Committee President (1980 to 2001) Juan Antonio Samaranch, has died of heart problems in a Barcelona hospital. He was the second longest serving Olympic Games chief. Only Pierre de Coubertin, the Frenchman who founded the modern Olympics, served a longer term than Mr Samaranch.

During his 21 year tenure as President of the IOC, the dedicated Samaranch had to deal with many serious issues. There were boycotts by the US and the Soviet Union and a bribery scandal attributed to a host city. However, under his guidance, corporate sponsorship and television revenue increased markedly and cities around the world started vying furiously to be host cities for the Olympics.

The 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, the last under the presidency of Mr Samaranch, generated broadcast revenue of $US1.3 billion. Sponsorship income rose more than five-fold between 1988 and 2000.

Detractors pointed to the increased use of drugs by athletes and gifts accepted by IOC members who were considering applications to host the 2002 Winter Games.

Mr Samaranch ''wasn't interested in the issue'' of drug use, Dick Pound, then chief of the World Anti-Doping Agency, told Reuters in 2007. Mr Pound had served as a member of the IOC's executive board under Mr Samaranch, who shot back that Mr Pound was bitter because he had lost his 2001 bid to become the next IOC president.

Mr Samaranch said his commitment to fighting drugs was shown by the IOC's role in creating the anti-doping agency as well as the Court for Arbitration for Sport, which handles disputes over alleged drug use and other disciplinary matters.

He also pointed to the IOC's decision to strip the gold medal of Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson at the 1988 Olympics after a positive drug test.

The most frustrating period of Mr Samaranch's tenure was when scandal arose about how the organization, in 1995, awarded the 2002 Winter Games to Salt Lake City. Subsequent investigations found Salt Lake City bid officials had given $US1 million in gifts to IOC members and their families. Ten IOC members were expelled or resigned.

During his presidency, Mr Samaranch visited all 199 states or countries that made up the IOC membership - a notable feat that showed his dedication and enthusiasm for his role.

Some of the significant changes under Mr Samaranch's leadership were the IOC's asset growth from $US2 million in 1980 to $US900 million in 2001. This was reported by John Findling and Kimberly Pelle in their Encyclopedia of the Modern Olympic Movement. Mr Samaranch also increased the role of women in the IOC and during his reign, participation in of women in Olympic competition grew markedly.

His home for much of the time was Suite 309 at the five-star Palace Hotel in Lausanne, the Swiss city where the IOC is based.

Samaranch married Maria Teresa Salisachs Rowe, known as "Bibís" (26 December 1931 - 16 September 2000), on 1 December 1955. Their son, Juan Antonio Samaranch Salisachs, has been a member of the International Olympic Committee since 2001. Their daughter, Maria Teresa Samaranch Salisachs, has been President of the Spanish Federation of Sports on Ice since 2005.

For all recipients of the Gold Medal of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Samaranch's coffin will be laid out for public mourning in the Palau de la Generalitat. The funeral mass is expected to take place in Barcelona Cathedral at 18:00 local time, 22 April 2010, in the presence of King Juan Carlos of Spain, Queen Sofia and the Princesses Elena and Cristina.Sources:

http://www.theage.com.au/world/former-olympic-games-chief-samaranch-dies-at-89-20100422-t3hx.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Antonio_Samaranch

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