CRI听力: Samaranch Dies at 89, Chinese Sports World Pays Tribute

Former International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch has died at the age of 89 due to heart problems. Chinese people are expressing their sincere sadness at the news.

Let's find out more with reporter Liu Min.




Samaranch was regarded by the international community as a master of negotiation, persuasion and behind-the-scenes diplomacy during his 21 years as president of the International Olympic Committee.

IOC president Jacques Rogge praised his predecessor as a great leader of the Olympic movement.

"Samaranch was a great president, he left a strong legacy. He can definitely be credited with making the games the success story they are today, he can also be credited with changing the IOC, making it more representative, more transparent and with a better governance."

But in Chinese people's eyes, he is an affable, friendly, and kindly grandfather figure, full of wisdom and advice.

Samaranch was born in 1920 in Barcelona, Spain. He was appointed president of the IOC in 1980. He helped China to return to the Olympic family. At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Samaranch personally presented China's first gold medal in shooting to Xu Haifeng. In 1992, Deng Yaping won a gold medal in table tennis, and when Samaranch issued the medal at the podium, he promised her that he would do so again if she won another medal in next Olymplics.

Samaranch kept his word, when in 1996 he presented Deng Yaping with another gold medal in Atlanta. Thus, they became good friends despite great difference in age. Deng Yaping once asked Samaranch to write a recommendation letter for her in application for a PHD program with Cambridge University after she just got her master's in England.

"He told me it's time for you to go back. Don't stay overseas for too long. You should go back to China to work for your country and your people. His words gave me a deep insight into his friendship with China."

Samaranch was the first one who proposed that China should host Olympics. He officially suggested China to bid for Olympics after attending the opening ceremony of the 6th National Games in 1987. On July 13th, 2001, Samaranch announced this most exciting news to all Chinese people.

"The game of the 29th Olympiad in 2008 are awarded to the city of---Beijing!"

Many people still remember the night Beijing won the bid for the 2008 Games. The dream of hosting the games had finally come true. With the red national flag waving in their hands and crowds cheering in Beijing's city center, the whole nation was thrilled at the prospect of hosting the 2008 Olympics. At that moment, the name Samaranch was also deeply rooted in the memory of all Chinese people. Chinese sports diplomat He Zhenliang was one of Samaranch's best friends from China. He recalls,

"Samaranch once told me, during his whole life, he was given so many titles and honors, but there is one title that he cherishes the most - that he is Chinese people's best friends."

A former Spanish ambassador to Moscow, he oversaw the landmark era from 1980-2001 - a period when the games saw political boycotts, a transition toward professionalism, an explosion of commercialization and a growth and popularity boom. Since then, cities around the world have been competing for the games, and the Olympics have been firmly established as the globe's favorite sports festival. Former Olympic Table Tennis Gold Medalist Deng Yaping says she is deeply sorry for the loss to the sports world.

"To some extent, Samaranch led the Olympic Games to another peak and into a new era. The great Olympic spirit allows us to enjoy the pleasure that sports bring to us. He also helped us to fulfill our dreams of hosting the games, a dream that we've had for over a hundred years. We've lost a great leader in the sports field."

One of his last public appearances was on March 4 this year, when was awarded a Hispano-Chinese Foundation prize for his time as president of the Hispano-Chinese Forum, which he had led since November 2001.

For CRI, I'm Liu Min.