(ATR) IOC president Jacques Rogge and dozens of colleagues head to China this weekend to dedicate a museum for past IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch.
More than 16,000 pieces are included in the Samaranch Memorial that will open April 21 in Tianjin, 150 km southeast of Beijing – and some 12,000 km from Samaranch’s home town of Barcelona. The date is the fourth anniversary of his death at age 89.
Chinese Taipei IOC member and international boxing federation president C.K.Wu led the formation of the memorial. Wu says he wanted to create the museum to pay respect to Samaranch, whom he regarded as a mentor and close friend. Before he died, Samaranch designated Wu to receive the collection on display at the Tianjin memorial. The Samaranch Memorial will be the first devoted to the IOC president, who served from 1980 to 2001.
Wu says China was chosen as the site due to the deep affection felt there for Samaranch. The IOC leader presided over the election in 2001 that awarded the 2008 Olympics to Beijing.
Tianjin was selected for the memorial because underwriting of the project from the municipal government. The city of 13 million is home to north China’s largest port.
Ground was broken in 2011 for the 19,000 square meter museum which sits on a 144,000 square meter site, much of which is devoted to green space.
The exhibits include books, stamps, memorabilia, artwork, manuscripts and other personaleffects from the IOC leader.
As a modern museum, the exhibits also feature high tech presentations that allow visitors to interact with Samaranch and see the world through his eyes.
The memorial is located in a section of Tianjin that is dedicated to sport with a 30,000 seat football arena on one side, a tennis center on another.
Besides Rogge, IOC member and Samaranch son Juan Antonio Jr. will speak at the dedication, set for Sunday morning.
Written and reported in Beijing byEd Hula.
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