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5 unusual facts about Juan Antonio Samaranch


Alexandre de Mérode

In May 2000, he tendered his resignation as head of the IOC medical commission; however, he withdrew his resignation when IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch asked him to stay.

Bids for the 2000 Summer Olympics

When IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch thanked the five competing cities before announcing the winning bid, many Chinese in Beijing mistook his utterance of the city's name, before any of the others, as an announcement that it had been awarded the Games, and widespread celebrations began.

Lawrence Lemieux

At the medal awards ceremony, Juan Antonio Samaranch, President of the International Olympic Committee, awarded Lemieux the Pierre de Coubertin Medal for Sportsmanship.

Stanislav Bartůšek

In 2000, his documentary named Za císaře... (For the Emperor...) presenting the life story of Czech cyclist Jan Veselý won the Juan Antonio Samaranch Award at the Santander Sports Movies Festival.

World Olympians Association

IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch created the World Olympians Association following the Centennial Olympic Congress, Congress of Unity, held in Paris in 1994.



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