Picture of fascist salute by IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch sparks row

Joan Antonio Samaranch giving the fascist salute in 1974

A photograph showing Juan Antonio Samaranch giving the fascist salute in honour of General Franco has sparked calls for him to stand down as life president of the International Olympic Committee.

The photograph, taken in 1974, shows Mr Samaranch at a celebration to mark the 38th anniversary of the coup staged by General Franco in 1936 and which led to his victory in the Spanish Civil War three years later. 

The image was published in the August edition of Sapiens magazine, a historical publication.

Campaigners have called for Mr Samaranch’s resignation, claiming that his past links to the Franco regime are not compatible with the “democratic and fraternal ideals of world sport”.

Mr Samaranch's links to the Franco regime during its dying days in the mid-1970s have long proved controversial in Spain.

Born into a wealthy family in Barcelona, he was head of the city’s council between 1973 and 1977. In the 1960s, he was procurator of the Cortes, the Spanish upper house of parliament when it was a puppet authority under Franco.

Mr Samaranch was appointed Sports Secretary by the dictator in 1967 and went on to become president of the Spanish National Olympic Committee during final years of Franco’s rule.

Mr Samaranch, 89, was IOC president between 1980 and 2001 before being made life president.

When Franco died in 1975, Mr Samaranch did not disguise his admiration for the man who had ruled Spain with ruthless repression for 36 years. He said: “The mandate of Francisco Franco has meant the longest period of prosperity and peace that our country has known for many centuries.”

The Democracy and Dignity in Sport (DDE) campaign has about 1,000 supporters, among them James Petras, the US left-wing essayist and academic and Howard Zinn, a US political analyst.

Tony Strubell, of DDE, said during the 1950s the IOC condemned the dictatorships of Hitler and Mussolini. But, he said, today the IOC had “zero credibility” because of the presence of Mr Samaranch at its head.

Mr Strubell said: “Mr Samaranch has never retracted (his words or support) for Franco. This is not a personal campaign but rather to make sure nothing like this occurs in the highest office of sport.”

Mr Samaranch was credited for bringing financial stability to the IOC during the 1970s through lucrative television deals and sponsorships. But he was criticised for over-commercialisation of the Olympics and his personal fondness for being addressed as Excellency and staying in five-star presidential suites.

An IOC spokeswoman said: "President Samaranch has devoted much of his adult life to the Olympic movement and the promotion of Olympic values. His honorary position was awarded in recognition of his record of dedication to Olympic values." 

Fuente: Times online