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President SAMARANCH passes away
Lausanne - 21 April 2010
FITA has just received the very sad news of the passing away of the IOC Honorary President, S.E.M. Juan-Antonio SAMARANCH, aged 89.
Photo © IOC: Honorary President SAMARANCH with President ROGGE 
In Vancouver during the recent Winter Olympic Games, he seemed to be in great shape and still very much active. For the Olympic Family this is a great loss.
“I cannot find the words to express the distress of the Olympic Family,” said IOC President Jacques ROGGE. “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.”
“His contribution to sport and archery in particular was tremendous. In archery, we very much appreciated his support which has helped us to modernise and professionalise the sport.” stated the FITA President and IOC Member, Prof Dr Ugur ERDENER.
Born in Barcelona in 1920, SAMARANCH pursued an outstanding career as diplomat and sports administrator before leading the IOC for 21 years. Soon after his election, SAMARANCH worked towards the abolition of amateurism at the Olympic Games. Despite two boycotts in Moscow in 1980 and in Los Angeles in 1984, SAMARANCH managed to maintain the quality of the Games and increase the number of participating countries. He was the man behind improving the financial health of the Olympic Movement, developing TV rights and sponsorship negotiations and strengthening Olympic Solidarity, the organ by which the IOC redistributes its revenue in order to ensure the training and participation of athletes at the Olympic Games.
A hugely energetic man, he was responsible for the new IOC headquarters building in Vidy and for inaugurating The Olympic Museum in Lausanne. He will also be remembered for championing the representation of women in the IOC, overseeing the entry of the first women members in the 1980s. He was likewise responsible for setting up the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and for involving the athletes themselves in the decision-making of the IOC by creating the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
A diplomat, SAMARANCH started his career as Municipal Councillor responsible for sport in the City of Barcelona. He then took on the role of National Delegate for Physical Education and Sport before becoming President of the “Barcelona Diputación”. He was appointed Spanish Ambassador to the former Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of Mongolia from 1977 to 1980.
Before his election as IOC President in Moscow in 1980, SAMARANCH had a long career in sports administration. He was a member and subsequently President of the Spanish National Olympic Committee from 1967 to 1970; President of the Spanish Skating Federation; and Chef de Mission at the Olympic Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo in 1956, in Rome in 1960 and in Tokyo in 1964. He was himself a keen rink hockey player.
On behalf of the entire Archery Family and FITA Council, please accept our sincere condolences.
Tom DIELEN
FITA Secretary General
Source for biography: International Olympic Committee
In Vancouver during the recent Winter Olympic Games, he seemed to be in great shape and still very much active. For the Olympic Family this is a great loss.
“I cannot find the words to express the distress of the Olympic Family,” said IOC President Jacques ROGGE. “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.”
“His contribution to sport and archery in particular was tremendous. In archery, we very much appreciated his support which has helped us to modernise and professionalise the sport.” stated the FITA President and IOC Member, Prof Dr Ugur ERDENER.
Born in Barcelona in 1920, SAMARANCH pursued an outstanding career as diplomat and sports administrator before leading the IOC for 21 years. Soon after his election, SAMARANCH worked towards the abolition of amateurism at the Olympic Games. Despite two boycotts in Moscow in 1980 and in Los Angeles in 1984, SAMARANCH managed to maintain the quality of the Games and increase the number of participating countries. He was the man behind improving the financial health of the Olympic Movement, developing TV rights and sponsorship negotiations and strengthening Olympic Solidarity, the organ by which the IOC redistributes its revenue in order to ensure the training and participation of athletes at the Olympic Games.
A hugely energetic man, he was responsible for the new IOC headquarters building in Vidy and for inaugurating The Olympic Museum in Lausanne. He will also be remembered for championing the representation of women in the IOC, overseeing the entry of the first women members in the 1980s. He was likewise responsible for setting up the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and for involving the athletes themselves in the decision-making of the IOC by creating the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
A diplomat, SAMARANCH started his career as Municipal Councillor responsible for sport in the City of Barcelona. He then took on the role of National Delegate for Physical Education and Sport before becoming President of the “Barcelona Diputación”. He was appointed Spanish Ambassador to the former Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of Mongolia from 1977 to 1980.
Before his election as IOC President in Moscow in 1980, SAMARANCH had a long career in sports administration. He was a member and subsequently President of the Spanish National Olympic Committee from 1967 to 1970; President of the Spanish Skating Federation; and Chef de Mission at the Olympic Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo in 1956, in Rome in 1960 and in Tokyo in 1964. He was himself a keen rink hockey player.
On behalf of the entire Archery Family and FITA Council, please accept our sincere condolences.
Tom DIELEN
FITA Secretary General
Source for biography: International Olympic Committee
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