Juan Antonio Samaranch: A fascist who moulded the Olympic games

The backers of the 2012 Olympics ignore Juan Antonio Samaranch’s horrible history, writes Matthew Cookson

‘We are the Masters . . . for a few more months.’ Samaranch, fourth from right, surrounded by fascist deadbeats in 1974 mourning Adolf Hitler (http://www.transparencyinsport.org/The_IOCs_Favourite_Fascist/the_iocs_favourite_fascist.html).

The obituaries of Juan Antonio Samaranch, the former head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) who died last week, focused on his sporting role.

He turned the Olympics into the hyped, gargantuan event we will see in London 2012.

But they gloss over Samaranch’s history as a fascist and key supporter of General Francisco Franco’s Spanish dictatorial regime.

This is the continuation of a process that began when he was became president of the IOC in 1980.

In his own words, Samaranch was “100 percent Francoist”. He supported Franco’s 1936 revolt against the elected Republican government and his tyrannical rule.

‘Does your arse need licking?’ How the young Samaranch got his photo-opportunity with Franco’s daughter Carmen (http://www.transparencyinsport.org/The_IOCs_Favourite_Fascist/the_iocs_favourite_fascist.html).

He ingratiated himself with the dictator to rise in Spanish society.

He joined the fascist party, becoming an MP, president of the Catalonian regional council and sports minister. He put on the fascist Blue Shirt and joined parades through the streets making the fascist salute.

The artist Salvador Dali, another whose fascist views are almost ignored, designed the invitations to his wedding.

Samaranch was appointed the regime’s head man in Catalonia in 1973. He declared, “I proclaim in an unequivocal way the loyalty and fidelity that ties my heart to the regime.”

He was loyal to the bitter end of Franco’s rule in 1975. Samaranch realised that after the dictator’s death his domestic political career was over.

Ever the opportunist he fled to the Soviet Union to open diplomatic relations and to help organise the Moscow Olympics in 1980.

He made friends with Eastern Europe’s Stalinist dictators, using those links to help him become the IOC president.

He transformed the formerly honorary position into a full-time chief executive, all for his own glory.

His autocratic manner as the head of the Olympics was remarkably similar to the style that Franco used.

Under Samaranch’s rule, the Olympics became the ultra-commercial event of today, with multinationals and TV firms spending billions for exclusive rights to them.

Corruption and bribery grew massively in the bidding process as cities competed to host the games.

All this is his tainted legacy.

Framed by Olympic-style burning torches Samaranch,
the sharply dressed fascist clutching the wreath, intimidates the people of Barcelona in 1956 (http://www.transparencyinsport.org/The_IOCs_Favourite_Fascist/the_iocs_favourite_fascist.html).

Samaranch gets a kick out of shaking the hand that signed thousands of death warrants (http://www.transparencyinsport.org/The_IOCs_Favourite_Fascist/the_iocs_favourite_fascist.html).

Samaranch in fascist uniform on his knees before the murdererous dictator General Franco (second left) in 1967. They claimed to have God on their side (http://www.transparencyinsport.org/The_IOCs_Favourite_Fascist/the_iocs_favourite_fascist.html).

Samaranch, in Blueshirt repeats his oath of allegiance for the benefit of Jesus and enthralled Spanish radio listeners(http://www.transparencyinsport.org/The_IOCs_Favourite_Fascist/the_iocs_favourite_fascist.html).

Samaranch giving Generalissimo Franco the address of his tailor (http://www.transparencyinsport.org/The_IOCs_Favourite_Fascist/the_iocs_favourite_fascist.html).

Samaranch (bottom right) aged 54, wearing his fascist Blueshirt at yet another gathering of geriatric goons in late 1974 (http://www.transparencyinsport.org/The_IOCs_Favourite_Fascist/the_iocs_favourite_fascist.html).

Hitler and Franco: their right-arm Olympic exercises (http://www.transparencyinsport.org/The_IOCs_Favourite_Fascist/the_iocs_favourite_fascist.html)

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=21026