Former IOC senior member MARIO VÁZQUEZ RAÑA, one of the "most influential powerbrokers in world sport for decades, has died at the age of 82," according to Karolos Grohmann of REUTERS. A Mexican businessman and media owner, who was a member of the powerful IOC executive board, Vázquez Raña was also head of the Pan-American Sports Organization and the world's Association of National Olympic Committees from '79-12. IOC President Thomas Bach said in a statement, "Mario Vazquez Rana dedicated a great part of his life to Olympic sport. He served over decades with great commitment as President of PASO, even until his last moments. He had outstanding merit within the Olympic Movement and we will always remember him as a great Olympic leader. The Olympic flag at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne will be flown at half mast in his honor." Vázquez Raña, who "also briefly owned the UPI news agency, resigned from all his IOC posts" in '12 (REUTERS, 2/8). The AP reported Mexican Olympic Committee President CARLOS PADILLA BECERRA said, "It is very sad for me to confirm the news of his death." Aside from sports administration, Vázquez Raña was "also a prominent businessman and media magnate in Mexico." He headed the Organizacion Editorial Mexicana, the country's largest newspaper company, and owned the UPI in the late '80s. The Mexican Olympic Committee said that "funeral services were likely to take place in Mexico City, but did not have immediate details" (AP, 2/8).
("Don Mario, friend and exemplary Mexican, he will be remembered always as an untiring promoter of sports and journalism.")
