Samaranch and Bach, Icons of the Olympic Movement, Attend Centro Caribe Sports Centennial Gala

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – The celebration of the Centro Caribe Sports Centennial also served to honor some of the most influential figures in the history of the international Olympic Movement, including Juan Antonio Samaranch and Thomas Bach, former Presidents of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), whose contributions have become an integral part of the Olympic legacy and its global evolution.

Juan Antonio Samaranch, who served as President of the International Olympic Committee from 1980 to 2001, was one of the most influential leaders in the modern history of the Olympic Movement. During his tenure, he introduced significant reforms that strengthened the Olympic Movement and expanded the global reach of the Olympic Games, leaving a legacy that extended far beyond the world of sport.

Thomas Bach, a former world fencing champion and President of the IOC from 2013 to 2025, also took part in the Centro Caribe Sports Centennial celebration. His presence in the Dominican Republic reflects recognition of the importance of the regional organization, regarded as one of the world’s oldest regional sports organizations.

Bach had previously attended the inauguration of the Centro Caribe Sports Headquarters in Santo Domingo in March 2023, where he praised the vision of the organization’s then-President, Luis Mejía Oviedo. On that occasion, Bach particularly highlighted Mejía’s commitment to innovation and his efforts to strengthen the connection between sport and technology.

The presence of leaders closely associated with the highest governing body of the Olympic Movement underscores the significance of Centro Caribe Sports’ 100th anniversary. Throughout its history, the organization has played a fundamental role in the development of sport across Central America and the Caribbean while promoting the Olympic values of excellence, respect, and friendship through regional competition.

The Centennial Gala thus became an opportunity to celebrate the organization’s history and to recognize those who, from different roles within the Olympic Movement, have contributed to the growth and strengthening of international sport. The celebration brought together sports leaders, athletes, and distinguished personalities who form part of a legacy built over the course of a century.