萨马兰奇.doc

萨马兰奇 Juan Antonio Samaranch Torelló, Marquess of Samaranch (born 17 July 1920 – 21 April 2010) was a Spanish sports official who served as the 7th President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 1980 to 2001.Samaranch, born into a wealthy family in Barcelona, 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 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 Francos regime. He was vice-president of the IOC from 1974 and 1978, and he was appointed 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.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.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 Samaranchs 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[citation needed] 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