President of the International Olympic Committee that was held prior to the 1980 Summer Olympics – between 15 and 18 July 1980. He officially assumed presidency at the end of the Moscow Olympics. During his term, Samaranch managed to make the Olympic Movement financially healthy, with big television deals and sponsorships. Although the 1984 Summer Olympics were boycotted by the Eastern Bloc countries, the number of nations with a membership of the IOC and participating increased at every Games during his presidency. Samaranch also wanted the best athletes to compete in the Olympics, which led to the gradual acceptance of professional athletes. One achievement of Samaranch
President of the International Olympic Committee Games grew to become the most important sports event. De Coubertin created the modern pentathlon for the 1912 Summer Olympics. He subsequently stepped down from the IOC presidency after the 1924 Summer Olympics, which proved much more successful than the first attempt in Paris in 1900. He was succeeded as IOC President in 1925 by Belgian Henri de Baillet-Latour. De Coubertin remained Honorary President of the IOC until his death in 1937 in Geneva, Switzerland. Henri, Comte de Baillet-Latour was elected IOC President in 1925, after the founder of the modern Olympic Movement, Baron de Coubertin, stepped down from the