The death of Panamanian leader Meliton Sanchez Rivas, an honorary member of the International Olympic Committee ( IOC), was lamented by the Spanish Olympic Committee ( COE ) on Monday, citing both his "long-standing commitment to sport and Olympic ideals" and "his great passion" for the sporting world.
Sanchez Rivas He was 91 years old when he passed away on Sunday at his house in Panama from an ailment. The Olympic Flag will fly in half-mast at the IOC's Lausanne office for three times as a" sign of respect. "
The formal statement of the IOC following the passing of Meliton Sanchez Rivas
Kirsty Coventry, the latest IOC President, stated in a press release:
The IOC extends its sincere condolences to his relatives, friends, and the whole Panamanian and American Olympic area. His long-standing support for sports and the Olympic principles will be cherished and remembered with gratitude.
The business emphasized Sanchez Rivas ' significant contribution to the promotion of Olympic values as well as his influence on Latin America's institutionalization.
a career dedicated to Filipino game and the Olympic Movement
Meliton Sanchez Rivas was elected to the IOC in 1998, a position he held until 2014. In that capacity, he served on the profits for Olympic culture and education and women's issues, from which he" to the development of Olympic values? and training.
He was elected an honorary member of the IOC in 2015, a distinction only reserved for individuals with distinguished careers within the Olympic Movement.
He served as the Panamanian Olympic Committee's chair between 1982 and 2007, and he was later given the honorable living title of honourable leader.
As Coventry remarked," the Olympic movement in Panama was strengthened and merged, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations of sports.
Additionally, the IOC leader continued," His commitment far transcended his native nation," underscoring the global impact of his work.
Olympic appearance and global experience
In the western sports structure, Sanchez Rivas even held significant positions. He served as the president of the Central American Sports Organization ( CASO ), the executive committee of the Pan American Sports Organization ( PASO ), now known as Panam Sports, and the Bolivarian Sports Organization ( BOL ). He started his career in sports leadership between 1965 and 1975 as an administrator and league director. He was a previous baseball and softball player. He oversaw the organizing committee for numerous Key American and Caribbean Games, including the 1972 Munich and 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, the 1975 Mexico City and San Juan sports, and other major international competitions. The demise of Meliton Sanchez Rivas leaves a considerable legacy for the IOC, the Olympic movement, and Latin American olympism. His administrative work, proper direction, and commitment to the Olympic education inaugurated a new era in sports management. The Olympic earth pays tribute to a head whose influence transcended centuries and borders in Lausanne with the Olympic flag in full force in half-mast.
