China has fond memories of Samaranch

By Lan Tian (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-23 11:03

The sports pioneer was a key figure in awarding the '08 Games to Beijing

BEIJING - Juan Antonio Samaranch, the former chief of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) who died on Wednesday, shared a number of unforgettable moments and relationships with China as its supporter and as "the old friend of the Chinese people."

Students at the middle school attached to the Central Institute of Art and Crafts hold candles during a memorial ceremony for the deceased former International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Juan Antonio Samaranch in Beijing on April 22, 2010. Samaranch, who died in Barcelona on April 21, shared a number of unforgettable moments and relationships with China as its supporter and as "the old friend of the Chinese people." He paid a visit to the middle school during Beijing Olympics in 2008. [Photo/Xinhua]

Samaranch, who died of heart failure at the age of 89 in Barcelona, led the IOC from 1980 - when China returned to the Olympics after more than two decades - until 2001, when Beijing was awarded the 2008 Olympic Games.

Many Chinese remember Samaranch's affectionate pat on the cheek of Chinese table tennis super star Deng Yaping when he awarded her the women's singles gold medal at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996. He then established a friendship with Deng after he was inspired by her aggressive playing style.

"I am shocked by the news," said Deng, a multiple Olympic gold medalist in table tennis. "I am very sad. As a sportsperson, he led the Olympic movement to a new peak, a new era."

President Hu Jintao sent a message of condolence to the IOC and Samaranch's family on Thursday, according to the foreign ministry, an honor that is usually reserved for heads of state.

"Mr Samaranch was the old friend and good friend of the Chinese people," said Hu in his message to the family and IOC. "He made great contributions to China's return to the IOC, the expansion of exchanges and cooperation between the IOC and China, and the China-Spain friendship, which we will never forget."

One of Samaranch's last public appearances was on March 4 of this year when he was awarded the Hispano-Chinese Foundation prize for his work as president of the Hispano-Chinese Forum, which he held since November 2001.

"Wherever he traveled in China, Mr Samaranch could always feel the love and friendship Chinese people expressed to him. He often told people around him he was deeply touched by this love," said Li Hong, the former chief representative of the IOC in China, to China Daily yesterday.

His attention to detail and his respect to everyone that he met impressed Li the most.

"He gave well-prepared, different gifts to everyone who visited or interviewed him. Even photographers would get a gift," she said. "He was a man with sagacity, strong determination, kindness and universal love."

He Zhenliang, the honorary president of the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) and one of China's most famous sports figures, said he was deeply saddened by the death of Samaranch. The two had worked together for 20 years.

"The Olympic movement lost a great leader, China lost a close friend and I lost a very close friend and an old brother," the 80-year-old told Xinhua.

"We can never forget President Samaranch's help in Beijing's successful bid and the exceptional success of the 2008 Olympic Games. When the preparations for the Beijing Olympics was disturbed by political factors, he always firmly stood behind us," He said.

The COC on Thursday expressed their condolences and sympathy to Jacques Rogge, president of the IOC, and to the family of Samaranch.

Rogge said that at the beginning of Samaranch's 21-year reign at the IOC, the governing body was nearly bankrupt and the Games were battered by boycotts, terrorism and financial troubles. Cities frowned upon becoming hosts of the Games.

The current IOC president said Samaranch changed all that and the Olympics are now a multibillion-dollar industry.

"He has left a great legacy. And I pledge in the name of the International Olympic Committee that we shall preserve and perpetuate his legacy and his heritage," said Rogge.

On Thursday, the Olympic flag draped Samaranch's coffin as it was wheeled into the Catalonia state headquarters while the Olympic musical score was played. Samaranch's family and a host of international figures and dignitaries attended the procession.

Reuters, AP and Xinhua contributed to the story

(China Daily 04/23/2010 page23)