Different Samaranch, same agenda.

Two years after Juan Antonio Samaranch's death, his successors came to Beijing to continue his mission in China.

The Samaranch Foundation was launched in Beijing on Friday, the 11th anniversary of the city winning the bid for the 2008 Olympic Games. The goal is to promote Olympic ideals, sports and culture exchanges in China.

Samaranch's son, Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, and Yu Zaiqing, vice-president of the International Olympic Committee, lead the foundation. Board members include representatives of the IOC and the Chinese and Spanish governments, representatives of the donors and Chinese and international sports celebrities.

During Samaranch's tenure, China returned to the Olympics in 1984 after a 32-year absence, then won the Beijing bid in 2001, at the end of his reign.

"Our father valued the love and friendship he always received from China," Samaranch Jr said. "Two years ago, we started to think of the best possible way to keep his legacy alive. This is the main driving force behind the Samaranch Foundation. Its objectives are to secure the Samaranch-China legacy, promote Sport for All activities that promote a healthy lifestyle in China and develop the best possible relationship between his two beloved countries, Spain and China.

"But this is only the beginning. Our dream is to have the foundation become a useful tool in developing many different projects in China. My father was a dreamer. He would be proud of us."

Former Olympic table-tennis champion Deng Yaping is on the board of trustees.

"(Samaranch) has made distinguished contributions to the Olympics. He pushed the Olympic Games to the international stage and made it a really popular event during his tenure," Deng said. "We are very grateful that he created such a great Olympic environment for us. The Olympic Games might not be as glorious as we see today without his efforts. He was a teacher as well as a friend to me, and I will do my best in the Samaranch Foundation to get more Chinese people involved in sports and share the joy of the Olympics."

tangzhe@chinadaily.com.cn