Former IOC President Samaranch passes away

The International Olympic Committee and those involved with the Olympics are remembering one of the IOC's most influential president's ever. Juan Antonio Samaranch has passed away at the age of 89.

File photo taken on July 13, 2001 shows Juan Antonio  Samaranch, former president of the International Olympic  Committee (IOC), announcing that Beijing, capital of China,  won the right to host the 2008 Olympics during a meeting in  Moscow, Russia. Juan Antonio Samaranch died at the age of 89  on April 21, 2010 in Barcelona after suffering from severe  heart attack.(Xinhua)

The Quiron Hospital in Barcelona said Samaranch died after being admitted with heart problems and passed away at 13:25 local time on Wednesday.

Hospital doctor Rafael Esteban said in a statement, that Samaranch had died as a result of "cardio-respiratory failure".

Samaranch, once one of the most powerful figures in world sport who wielded influence on the Olympic movement right up until his death, had suffered a number of health problems since his retirement and was admitted to hospital several times.

Many have paid tribute to Samaranch including IOC President Jacque Rogge and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

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