UIPM congratulates First VP Juan Antonio Samaranch on election as IOC Vice President

The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) warmly congratulates UIPM First Vice President Juan Antonio Samaranch (ESP) on his election as Vice President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the the IOC Session in Beijing on Saturday, February 19, 2022.

Mr. Samaranch is one of the most passionate and devoted volunteers to the Modern Pentathlon movement. For over 40 years his dedication and expertise has helped to drive multi-discipline sports forward. He first joined the UIPM Executive Board at the Congress in London in July 1993.

The 139th IOC Session saw Mr. Samaranch voted back on to the IOC Executive Board and return as Vice President, a position he first held for the four-year term from 2016-20. Mr. Samaranch has served as chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission for the ongoing Beijing Winter Olympics, which have been a remarkable success and feat of organizing given the unique challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Mr. Samaranch will take over the IOC Vice President seat of Mr. Yu Zaiqing (CHN), who steps down after completing two consecutive four-year terms.

Mr. Samaranch’s steadfast and successful relationship with Modern Pentathlon stretches back to 1980 when he first joined the Board of the Spanish Modern Pentathlon Federation. In 1988 in Seoul he was elected to the UIPM Council. In 1993 he was elected as UIPM Member for Marketing. In Budapest in 1996 he was elected UIPM First Vice President, a position he has held since and was most recently re-elected at UIPM Congress in Monaco on November 27, 2021. His father, former IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch was also a UIPM Honorary Member and in 2016 was elected to the UIPM Hall of Fame.

In an exciting time of evolution for UIPM sports, Mr. Samaranch is the first chairperson of our new Television Commission. He has extensive professional experience in the financial sector and is the Chief Executive Officer and Founding Partner of GBS Finanzas, SA.

UIPM President Dr. Klaus Schormann said: “What a magnificent and richly deserved honour for our dear friend and colleague Juan Antonio Samaranch. I congratulate him on his election as IOC Vice President at the 139th Session in Beijing. How fitting that his return to the role should come in Beijing where he has helped co-ordinate a truly impressive Winter Games. 

“Juan Antonio’s impact and influence on the modern history of UIPM cannot be overstated. As we enter into this exciting new chapter for our sport, his election as IOC Vice President is another reminder of how proud we are to have his passion and insight with us for this journey. Congratulations again to Juan Antonio.”