International Olympic Committee (IOC) outgoing president Juan Antonio Samaranch, defended his nomination of his son as a committee member, saying he was surprised by criticism of the move.
Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. was one of seven candidates proposed for membership by the IOC executive board.
Samaranch said at a news conference, “I cannot understand. This is in line (with IOC changes). I proposed my son with the agreement of the executive board of the IOC because I think my son can be a good member of the IOC”.
“This is not so important”, he said. “I am not proposing him as president. I am proposing him only as a member. He is not designated. He is only a candidate”.
Samaranch said his 41-year-old son, a Madrid businessman, was qualified to serve on the IOC because he has been a member of the international modern pentathlon federation for 20 years and is a current first vice president of the body.
“It’s nothing new in the history of the IOC”, said Samaranch, listing nine other members, including several royals, who have followed their fathers as delegates.
India’s Randhir Singh, who is also one of the seven candidates, is the son of former member Kuma Singh, who held office between 1947 and 1992.
U.S. Senator John McCain, the Arizona Republican whose commerce committee held Congressional hearings in 1999 into the Olympic scandals, said, “this is Samaranch’s last gasp of nepotism, which has characterized his entire reign”.
But Anita DeFrantz, the IOC vice president from the United States, defended the nomination.
“It’s not unusual to have a son (serve as a member)”, she said. “I’ve known Juanito for quite some time. He has been active in sport for some time. I’ve watched him grow up”.
