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Juan Antonio Samaranch
| Juan Antonio Samaranch | |
|---|---|
| |
| H.E., J.A. Samaranch with FICS President, Dr. Stephen J. Press at the Présidence of the IOC in Lausanne (1988) | |
7th President of the International Olympic Committee
| |
| In office 1980 – 16 July 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Michael Morris, 3rd Baron Killanin |
| Succeeded by | Jacques Rogge |
| Born | 17 July 1920 Barcelona, Spain |
| Nationality |  Spain
|
Juan Antonio Samaranch Torelló, Marques of Samaranch (born 17 July 1920 in Barcelona, Spain) is a Spanish sports official who served as the 7th President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 1980 to 2001.
Contents
Biography
Samaranch, born into a wealthy family, studied commerce at IESE Business School in Barcelona. He had been the Chef de mission of the Spanish team at a number of Olympic events, before he was appointed as the Government Secretary for Sports by Spanish Head of State Francisco Franco in 1967, also becoming the president of the Spanish National Olympic Committee and a member of the IOC. Samaranch was a prominent figure in the last years of Franco's regime. He was vice-president of the IOC from 1974 and 1978, and he was appointed as the Spanish ambassador to the Soviet Union and Mongolia from 1977 to 1980. In 1991, because of his efforts in support of the Olympic movement, he was given a title of Marqués (Marquess) de Samaranch by the King of Spain.
IOC Presidency
Samaranch was elected President of the IOC at the 83rd IOC Session in Moscow, that was held prior to the 1980 Summer Olympics - between 15 July and 18 July 1980.[1]
Accomplishments
During his term, Samaranch managed to make the Olympic Movement financially healthy, with big television deals and sponsorships. Although the 1984 Summer Olympics were still boycotted by the Eastern bloc, the number of nations with a membership of the IOC and participating increased at every Games during Samaranch's presidency. Samaranch also wanted the best athletes to compete in the Olympics, which led to the gradual acceptance of professional athletes.
One achievement of Samaranch has undoubtedly been the financial rescue of the IOC, which was in financial crisis in the 1970s. The games themselves were such a burden on host cities that it appeared that no host would be found for future Olympiads. Under Samaranch, the IOC revamped its sponsorship arrangements (choosing to go with global sponsors rather than allowing each national federation to take local ones), and new broadcasting deals which brought in much money.
It became a tradition for Samaranch, when giving the President's address at the close of each Summer Olympics, to praise the organisers at each Olympiad for putting on "the best ever" Games. He withheld this phrase only once, at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia [2] where the organisation had come under heavy criticism.[3]
Interactions with Chiropractic
In 1988 after the formations of the International Federation of Sports Chiropractic, a White paper was produced by FICS, and submitted to Mr. Samaranch, facilitated by a DC practicing in the Las Angeles area. A meeting was arranged in Lausanne at the IOC headquarters, following the 2nd World Congress of Sports Chiropractic held that year in Rome, Italy. Dr. Stephen J. Press wound up going to the meeting with Jean Robert, DC, of Geneva. From there, the relationship with FICS developed slowly. FICS anticipated that Mr. Samaranch would move the recognition of FICS during is tenure, and the FICS' Gold Medal was developed to show FICS' appreciation. Unfortunately that never happened. However, prior to the Games in Sydney, Australia, in 2000, Mr. Samaranch arranged for a FICS delegation to work in the polyclinic. A boycott by the Australian medical community was averted only by Mr. Samaranch un-inviting the Chiropractic delegation. It has been an uphill fight since then but Chiropractic has been supported by the World Olympians Association, through the International Sports Chiropractic Association
Criticism
What the IOC does with its new-found millions is, however, the subject of much speculation and criticism, with some criticizing the over-commercialization of what had used to be a strictly-amateur competition, while others began accusing the IOC of corruption.
Also during his tenure as IOC president, Samaranch insisted that he be addressed with the title of "Excellency", a title used for heads of state. In addition, when he traveled to conduct Olympic business, he would insist on a chauffeured limousine as well as a presidential suite in the finest hotel of whatever city he visited. The IOC put an annual rental (at a cost of US$500,000 per year) at a presidential suite for his stays in Lausanne, Switzerland, where the IOC headquarters are located.[4]
Succession
In 2001, Samaranch did not apply for the presidency again. He was succeeded by Jacques Rogge. He then became Honorary President for Life of the International Olympic Committee.
Family
He married Maria Teresa Salisachs Rowe, known as "Bibí" (26 December 1931 - 16 September 2000), on 1 December 1955. Two children were born of this marriage. His son, Juan Antonio Samaranch Salisachs, is currently a member of the International Olympic Committee. He also has a daughter, Maria Teresa.
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Juan Antonio Samaranch |
| Civic offices | ||
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| Preceded by Lord Killanin |
President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) 1980–2001 |
Succeeded by Jacques, Count Rogge |
 |
The basis of this article is contributed from Wikipedia. These articles are licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License It may have since been edited beyond all recognition. But we thank Wikipedia for allowing its use. Please discuss further on this Article's talk page. |
bs:Juan Antonio Samaranch
bg:Хуан Антонио Самаранч
ca:Joan Antoni Samaranch i Torelló
cs:Juan Antonio Samaranch
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fa:خوان آنتونیو سامارانش
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ko:후안 안토니오 사마란치
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ja:フアン・アントニオ・サマランチ
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pt:Juan Antonio Samaranch
ru:Самаранч, Хуан Антонио
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sl:Juan Antonio Samaranch
sr:Хуан Антонио Самаран
fi:Juan Antonio Samaranch
sv:Juan Antonio Samaranch
tl:Juan Antonio Samaranch
zh:胡安·安东尼奥·萨马兰奇
