National Olympic Committee of Armenia (ANOC) sent condolences on decease of Juan Antonio Samaranch, International Olympic Committee Honorary President for Life, who died April 21 at the age of 90, ANOC official website reported.
Samaranch was elected President of the IOC at the 83rd IOC Session, held in Moscow prior to the 1980 Summer Olympics – between 15 July and 18 July 1980.
During his term, Samaranch made the Olympic Games financially healthy, with big television deals and sponsorships.
One achievement of Samaranch was the financial rescue of the IOC, which was in financial crisis in the 1970s.
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. Samaranch served second the longest term as the head of the IOC, 21 years, the longest being that of Pierre de Coubertin (29 years). Following his retirement, Samaranch played a major role in Madrid's bid for the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, though both were unsuccessful. In 1991 he was given the title of Marqués de Samaranch by King Juan Carlos of Spain in recognition of his contribution to the Olympic movement.
