Paralympics: IOC chief to preside over Paralympics

The 80-year-old Spaniard, who closed the Olympics on Oct. 1, was expected to arrive Tuesday in Sydney for the Oct. 18-29 Paralympics. Samaranch is retiring next year after 20 years as president of the IOC.

He will present the Olympic Cup to Sydney Lord Mayor Frank Sartor in a ceremony at Sydney Town Hall on Thursday to mark the special contribution of Sydneysiders to the success of the 2000 Games.

The Olympic Cup is a non-competitive award instituted in 1906 by Pierre de Courbertin, founder of the modern Olympic movement. The Cup is usually awarded to an association or institution which has provided distinguished service to sport or contributed successfully to the promotion of the Olympic ideals.

After rating Sydney as the best Olympics on record, Samaranch said the people of Sydney deserved a special award for their warm hospitality and shows of extraordinary fair play. Samaranch identified the men's long jump final, when the crowd enthusiastically cheered gold medalist Ivan Pedroso despite the fact that the Cuban's winning jump edged Australia's Jai Taurima into second place, as the defining moment of the games.

More than 4,000 athletes from 125 nations will contest the 11th Paralympics in Sydney.

(AP)