Heart attack claims 'visionary' IOC official

Tributes flowed on Monday for Switzerland's Patrick Baumann, the secretary general of basketball's world governing body who died of a heart attack on Sunday in Buenos Aires.

Baumann was working at the Youth Olympics in his role as president of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations and an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member. He was 51.

"Basketball has lost a leader, an advocate and a friend and our thoughts are with Patrick's wife and two children at this tragic time," the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) said in a statement.

IOC president Thomas Bach said: "We lose a young and sympathetic leader full of hope who was standing for the future of sport. Our thoughts are with his wife and family."

Baumann, FIBA's top official for 15 years and an IOC committee member since 2007, was considered a potential IOC president.

His importance within the IOC's ranks grew significantly in recent years. He headed an IOC panel that analyzed the Paris and Los Angeles bids for the 2024 Olympics and in recent months took charge of preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

"Patrick was a partner and a friend," LA 2028 chairman Casey Wasserman said in a statement. "He will be greatly missed."

The Buenos Aires 2018 organizing committee described Baumann as a "pioneering" and "visionary" sports administrator.

"Patrick was a brilliant sport leader and a great person. I was greatly honored that he considered me his friend," said Gerardo Werthein, president of the Buenos Aires organizing committee.

Xinhua