Samaranch heads home to tend to sick wife

Sydney: International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Juan Antonio Samaranch was forced to leave the Sydney Olympics and return home to Spain on Saturday because his wife is ill, IOC officials said.

"His wife has been sick lately and he is concerned," IOC director general Francois Carrard said.

Samaranch's duties at the Games will be taken over by Canada's IOC vice president Dick Pound.

Carrard would not give any details about the illness of Maria Teresa, saying it was a private matter. But he said the IOC president hoped to return to the Games which opened on Friday.

"It is a difficult moment for him and his family," Carrard said. "He intends to come back."

Samaranch made a speech at Friday's opening ceremony. After announcing that his wife was ill, he asked Australian swimming great Dawn Fraser to take her seat beside him in the stand.



(c) Reuters Limited.