Samaranch served as IOC President for 21 years from 1980 to 2001, meaning that the Spaniard spent the second longest term as the head of the organisation behind only the founder of the Modern Olympic Games Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who was in the role for 29 years.

He died in April 2010 at the age of 89 after he had taken the IOC from near bankruptcy when he first became President to huge financial prosperity by the time he stepped down in 2001, making him perhaps the most influential and significant figure in the history of the Olympic Movement since Coubertin.

The Samaranch Memorial in Tianjin, just outside Beijing, was conceived, founded and designed by IOC Executive Board member C K Wu of Chinese Taipei.

Wu, who is also President of the International Boxing Association (AIBA), became an IOC member in 1988 when Samaranch was at the helm.

The pair became very close friends and shortly before his death, Samaranch donated his lifelong Olympic collection of over 16,000 pieces to Wu.

Following the death of Samaranch, Wu, a world-renowned architecture expert who helped create and build Milton Keynes in the UK, decided to found the Samaranch Memorial to showcase the collection and pay homage to the former IOC President.

His plans received the full authorisation and support of the Samaranch family and the IOC and the structure has now been completed after work began in 2011.

Construction spans an area of 19,000 square metres with three overlapping circular structures forming the main building.

These circles together form the shapes of "8", "S" and "∞"which can be seen as representations of the Beijing 2008, Samaranch and the infinite and the eternal.

In addition, circular ramps connecting the two buildings and the three levels make up the five Olympic rings – the symbol of the union five continents through the Olympic Movement.

The Samaranch Memorial will be one of the biggest collections of Olympic memorabilia in the world and it is due to officially open on Sunday (April 21).

Many IOC figures will be in attendance for the opening, including Samaranch's successor as IOC President Jacques Rogge and his son Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior, who is an IOC Executive Board member.

Wu also decided on the creation of the Samaranch Memorial due to his commitment to promoting the cultural and educational aspects of the Olympic Movement.

The 66-year-old is a member of the IOC Commission for Culture and Olympic Education.

The Commission advises the IOC on the promotion of culture and Olympic education and supports the IOC programmes and activities related to the education of youth through sport.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]