The former president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Juan Antonio Samaranch (89), has died after a short illness.
Mr Samaranch, the 7th IOC president, served in the position from 1980 until he stepped down in 2001.
"The International Olympic Committee was deeply saddened to learn today of the death of Juan Antonio Samaranch," the IOC said in a statement.
Mr Samaranch was admitted to the Quiron hospital in Barcelona on Sunday with acute heart problems and passed away earlier today, the hospital said.
He had died as a result of "cardio-respiratory failure" hospital doctor Rafael Esteban said in a statement.
"I cannot find the words to express the distress of the Olympic Family," IOC president Jacques Rogge said.
"We have lost a great man, a mentor and a friend who dedicated his long and fulfilled life to the Olympics."
Mr Samaranch had suffered a number of health problems since his retirement and was admitted to hospital several times.
He ran the IOC with absolute authority for two decades and Barcelona's successful bid to host the 1992 Olympics was seen as his personal triumph.
He stepped down in July 2001, 21 years after he had been elected as the IOC's seventh president, and was made life president when he handed power to Mr Rogge.
