GMA cites Samaranch’s Olympic legacy

President Arroyo conferred yesterday state honors to International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Juan Antonio Samaranch whom she cited for his outstanding accomplishments and contributions to sports that benefitted big and small countries as well like the Philippines.

The President conferred upon Samaranch the Order of Sikatuna with a Rank of Datu in simple rites held at Malacañang.

"The games have really flourished so much under your term (at the IOC)," President Arroyo told Samaranch as she awarded the medal and plaque of citation.

The President commended Samaranch for his legacy in the field of international relations through the propagation of Olympic values such as fair play and sportsmanship, for the reforms he instituted in the IOC and "for being a true and trusted friend of the Filipino nation."

The 81-year-old Samaranch who arrived here Tuesday night from Palau Island was grateful for the honor given him . He informed the President on the preparations of the IOC for the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece and the 2008 Olympics which five nations are vying to host.

After the rites, Samaranch told reporters the President informed him that she would visit Spain, his home country, in the near future.

"I know that she would be popularly received there," he said.

Samaranch was accompanied to the Palace by IOC representative to the Philippines Frank Elizalde, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) chairman Robert Aventajado, POC president Celso Dayrit and Philippine Sports Commission chairman Carlos Tuason.

In a breakfast with the country’s top officials and representatives from the media earlier, Samaranch said that the Philippines should apply the "pyramid method" to get good results in international competitions.

The POC president and the PSC chairman said they will heed the call of the outgoing IOC president.

"We have to take the cue from what Mr. Samaranch said," said Dayrit. "It’s all there in his short speech and it’s all encompassing."

Samaranch also gave emphasis on unity and collaboration of all sports officials, athletes and the government in his speech.

In reaction, the POC and the PSC signed before Samaranch a memorandum of agreement in connection with their plan to build a POC offices at the Philsports Complex in Pasig.