MONACO, October 14, 2009 - Former International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch was sent to hospital for medical checks on Tuesday.
Samaranch, 89, fell ill at the Sportel international sports television festival and was taken to Princess Grace Hospital Center in Monaco.
Spokeswoman Annie Inchauspe later said it was not serious but "a slight reaction to fatigue". Media reports today say the former IOC boss suffered a mild heart attack and will remain in hospital for two or three days.
Samaranch was IOC president from 1980 to 2001 before being succeeded by Jacques Rogge.
He made an impassioned appeal to the IOC in Copenhagen last week for Madrid to be chosen as the host city for the 2016 Olympic Games: "I know that I am very near the end of my time," ... "I am, as you know 89 years old. May I ask you to consider granting my country the honour and also the duty to organise the games in 2016. Thank you"
