Former IOC president Samaranch dies

Former International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Juan Antonio Samaranch has died, aged 89.

Spaniard Samaranch, who was made the IOC's honorary life president when he stepped down in 2001, was admitted to hospital in Barcelona on Sunday with acute heart problems.

The hospital said Samaranch died of cardiorespiratory failure.

"I cannot find the words to express the distress of the Olympic Family," IOC president Jacques Rogge said in a statement.

'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.

"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 had suffered a number of health problems since his retirement and has been admitted to hospital several times.

He ran the IOC with absolute authority for two decades and Barcelona's successful bid to host the 1992 Olympics was seen as his personal triumph.

At last year's vote in Copenhagen on the host for the 2016 Games, he made an emotional appeal to IOC members to grant him a last favour and choose Madrid but Rio de Janeiro was picked.

"I know that I am very near the end of my time," Samaranch said during Madrid's final presentation.

Born in Barcelona on July 17 1920, Samaranch enjoyed success as a roller skater and led the Spanish team to the world title.

He pursued a career in sports politics in dictator Francisco Franco's fascist Spain and won a place on the IOC in 1966.

After Franco's death, Samaranch was appointed ambassador to the Soviet Union and the contacts he made there helped him succeed Lord Killanin as IOC president in 1980.

He stepped down in July 2001, 21 years after he had been elected as the IOC's seventh president, and was made life president when he handed power to Belgian Rogge.

Only Pierre de Coubertin, the "father" of the modern Olympics and IOC chief from 1896 to 1925, held the post longer.

- Reuters