(Juan Antonio, Samaranch / 1920- / Lausanne) Spain
The former Franco ambassador has been elected president of the International Olympic Comittee in 1980. Born in Barcelona. In the 1950s and 1960s he held offices for athletic associations such as the Spanish Olympic Committee. He served as the Spanish ambassador to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in the late 1970s. He led the brilliant growth of the IOC from beautiful premises in Lausanne, and has been living for the past 19 years in the Lausanne Palace, right next door from our offices.