Data Map: On July 8, 2003, the Chinese version of the Olympic version of Samaranch, the honorary chairman of the International Olympic Committee, was held in Beijing in the Great Hall of the People. Photo by Mao Jianjun issued by China News Service
Today, 10 years ago, the lifetime honorary chairman of the International Olympic Committee, Samaranch, died in Spain at the age of 89.
10 years of time, things are right and wrong, but the old man who went to the west of the crane still stays deep in the memory of many people.
Good friend of the Chinese people
Samaranch was born in Barcelona, Spain in 1920. In 1980, he was elected president of the International Olympic Committee. In its 21 years of leading the International Olympic Committee, it has completed a series of major reforms including commercialization. And this kind-faced "old man" also has an indissoluble bond with China.
In the movie "Me and My Motherland", which was released during the National Day last year, a unit tells the story of the Beijing Olympics. The protagonist played by Ge You got a ticket for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in the unit and was asked where it came from. He bragged and said, "Samalanci sent it."
For the Chinese who have experienced the Beijing Olympics, the name Samaranch is definitely no stranger.
Samaranch announced that Beijing won the right to host the Olympic Games.
On July 13, 2001, at the Moscow State Grand Theater, Samaranch announced that "the city that won the right to host the 29th Olympic Games in 2008 is Beijing." Thousands of Chinese have witnessed this scene in front of the television, which is also one of the most exciting moments in the sports history of New China.
Of course, his relationship with China is far more than that. In the spring of 1978, Samaranch, then the first vice chairman of the International Olympic Committee, visited China for the first time. During the six-day visit, he had a deep understanding of why China is free from the Olympic family.
In April 1979, at the 8th Plenary Session of the International Olympic Committee, Samaranch introduced what he saw and heard. Samaranch said: "If China, which accounts for 23% of the world's population, is excluded, the Olympics will still be of real significance. The Olympic Games? "
In October of the same year, the International Olympic Committee Executive Committee passed a resolution in Nagoya to restore China ’s legal seat. Samaranch has contributed greatly to the highlights of Chinese sports history.
Data Map: In the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, the Chinese team won 15 gold medals and 32 medals. On the first day after the opening, Xu Haifeng won the first gold in the men's pistol slow shot competition Children and grandchildren have "zero breakthrough" in gold and medals in the Olympic Games.
The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics was the first Olympics that China participated in after regaining its legal seats. Xu Haifeng helped China achieve a breakthrough of zero Olympic gold medals in the men's 60-shot slow pistol match. At that time, Samaranch, who had become the president of the International Olympic Committee, personally awarded him a gold medal.
Xu Haifeng once recalled that Samaranch said to him at the time: "Today is a great day in the history of Chinese sports. I am honored to be able to personally award this gold medal to Chinese athletes."
In the years to come, Chinese athletes have frequently created good results, and "hosting the Olympic Games" has become a new expectation of the Chinese people.
Data Map: On September 22, 1990, at the opening ceremony of the 11th Asian Games, Chinese shooter Xu Haifeng held the torch with diving athlete Gao Min and female ranking Zhang Rongfang, and lit the main torch for the Asian Games. China News Service reporter Ren Chenming
However, in 1993, Beijing lost to Sydney by two votes, failing to qualify for the 2000 Olympics. After that, Samaranch repeatedly expressed encouragement and support for Beijing ’s bid again, “The Olympics in the 21st century cannot be without China.”
It's a lot of fun, and eight years later, Beijing finally won the right to host the 2008 Olympic Games. And China has lived up to Samaranch ’s expectations and dedicated a great Olympics to the world.
Accompanied by the sparkling fireworks at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, Samaranch's voice when he announced that Beijing had the right to host has long been echoed in his ears. These Olympic passions from the post-millennium period have become beautiful memories of generations of Chinese people.
Information Figure: On the evening of August 8, 2008, the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games was grandly opened at the National Stadium ("Bird's Nest"). Photo by reporter Mao Jianjun of China News Service
Leader of the Olympic ZTE
Due to the impact of the new coronary pneumonia epidemic, the Tokyo Olympics, originally scheduled to open in July 2020, were forced to be postponed until 2021. This extension may bring huge economic impact. In the original plan of the Tokyo Olympic Committee, the Olympic Games is expected to earn about 630 billion yen.
This is basically in line with the impression of modern people on the Olympics. As the world's top comprehensive sports event, from preparation to hosting, every link is accompanied by a large amount of capital investment, and a successful event may also bring expensive income.
But many people do not know that when Samaranch became the president of the International Olympic Committee in 1980, the Olympics were far from such a scene, and could even be described as "troubled".
Data Map: On March 23 local time, as the Tokyo Olympics originally scheduled to open on July 24 are approaching, Olympic elements can be seen everywhere on the streets of Tokyo, Japan.
According to media reports, the 1976 Montreal Olympics lost more than 1 billion US dollars, while the 1984 Olympic Games only Los Angeles participated in the bid. In 1980, only 200,000 US dollars of liquidity remained on the IOC ’s financial statements.
In addition, the holding of the Olympic Games has also been affected by political factors. In the Montreal Olympics, 28 African countries refused to attend because of the apartheid system. The following two Olympic Games in Moscow and Los Angeles were met with varying degrees of resistance from some countries.
At that time, since the first event was held in 1896, the modern Olympics were still under one hundred years old. But Samaranch knew that it was time to change.
Facing the immediate "big trouble", Samaranch adopted a series of reform measures, which not only saved the precarious modern Olympics, but also changed it from "losing money" to "sweet and sour."
Data map: The 2016 Rio Olympics men's basketball team finals ended the competition, and finally the American men's basketball team defeated Serbia 96:66 to win the championship. It has become a common phenomenon for professional athletes to participate in the Olympic Games.
Under the leadership of Samaranch, the Olympic Games no longer regarded commercialization as a flood beast, but actively promoted commercial development. For example, the sale of Olympic TV broadcasting rights through auctions, and the launch of the Olympic Global Sponsorship Program.
The old man once said: "Los Angeles Olympic Games revenue is 287 million US dollars, Sydney Olympic Games revenue is more than 1.4 billion US dollars, Athens Olympic Games is more than 1.6 billion US dollars, it seems that the Olympics is a good business for anyone."
In addition, the IOC has abandoned the idealized principle of amateurism, so that professional athletes can also participate, ensuring the level of competition in the Olympic Games.
Soon, the modern Olympics revived. Samaranch, who made great contributions, officially retired three days after announcing Beijing's right to host the Olympic Games.
Data Map: On May 12, 1992, Mr. Samaranch (second from right) and his wife were happily visiting the Chinese Pavilion of the World Expo in Seville, Spain, accompanied by Mr. He Zhenliang, President of the Chinese Olympic Committee. Photo by Weng Rong'er
On April 21, 2010, Samaranch died in Barcelona, Spain, at the age of 89.
Looking back on his life, he not only led the modern Olympics to a revival, but also a good friend of the Chinese people. He visited China 29 times. Here, many people affectionately call him "Savon".
The continuous true friendship
One month before Samaranch ’s death, he accepted the Spanish-Chinese Forum Foundation Award from the Spanish government. When receiving the award, Samaranch said: "I have received many honors in my life, but what I cherish most is the title of" good friend of the Chinese people. "
In 1986, Samaranch donated US $ 10,000 to Chengdu ’s first ten-thousand-year marathon to support the event. In fact, this is not an internal matter of the president of the International Olympic Committee. Such actions are more out of inner feelings. Samaranch once said: "I have gained friendship in China, and I have learned to love and respect the Chinese people."
Such a precious friendship has not been cut off after Samaranch's death.
Data map: Samaranch (right).
In 2013, the Samaranch Memorial Hall in Tianjin was opened for the first time. According to Samaranch's last wish, his personal collection and personal items totaled more than 10,000 pieces, which were all presented to the memorial by his family. The collection includes gifts from leaders of various countries, various medals, Olympic souvenirs, and important documents in the history of international Olympic development.
In front of the memorial, Samaranch ’s son, Samaranch Jr., who was the executive committee member of the International Olympic Committee, said that his father ’s favorite Olympic collection was displayed here. Everyone believed that the old man ’s Olympic philosophy and his and his China's friendship will "spread through the ages."
Samaranch Jr. also initiated and established the Samaranch Sports Development Foundation in China. Over the past few years, the Foundation has organized a series of public welfare activities.
Data map: On August 5, 1992, Samaranch congratulated Deng Yaping, who won the Olympic table tennis women's singles championship, and personally awarded her the award. China News Agency reporter Zhao Weishe
After successfully hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics, Beijing will host the Winter Olympics in 2022. On the highly anticipated night of 19 years ago, "Beijing" solemnly read from Samaranch's mouth is about to become a double Olympic city.
Over the years, Chinese athletes have also made great strides in the international arena. In 1984, the Chinese were very excited for Xu Haifeng's gold medal. Now, we are cheering for the blossoming of the Chinese legion.
Samaranch is an important witness and participant in the rise of China's sports undertakings. The Olympic spirit that has been inherited in China is also the best proof of his friendship with China.
Data Map: On the evening of March 30 local time, the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee held a press conference in Tokyo, announcing that the Japanese government, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee and the International Olympic Committee jointly decided that the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics will be held in 2021 It opened on July 23 and August 24. The picture shows the restart of the Olympic countdown card on the streets of Tokyo.
In 2020, due to the impact of the new coronary pneumonia epidemic, the Tokyo Olympics was forced to be postponed until 2021. This is a new challenge facing the Olympics now, and the epidemic situation is also a new problem that all mankind has to deal with.
Perhaps people can get inspiration from Samaranch ’s story, especially his interaction with China. As the Olympic spirit advocates, only mutual understanding, long-lasting friendship, and unity can overcome difficulties together! (Author Wang Hao)