Melitón Sánchez Rivas, honorary member of the IOC, died on Sunday in Panama, at the age of 91. As a token of respect, The Olympic flag will be flown at half-mast for three days at the Olympic House in Lausanne. Melitón Sánchez Rivas was a member of the IOC from 1998 to 2014, before becoming an honorary member in 2015. He specifically served on the "Women and Sport" and "Culture and Olympic Education" commissions.
« Melitón Sánchez Rivas served the Olympic Movement with great passion. He was immensely proud of his many years of commitment to the Olympic Movement He spoke with great affection of his colleagues and the friendships he had forged within the IOC over the decades. He will be greatly missed. " Kirsty Coventry said in a statement.
It is with profound sadness that the International Olympic Committee has learned of the death of Melitón Sánchez Rivas, IOC Honorary Member, who passed away peacefully at home in Panama on 15 February 2026 at the age of 91, following a brief illness.
- IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) February 16, 2026
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President of Panamanian NOC From 1982 to 2007, he also served as treasurer and then member of the executive committee of the Pan American Sports Organization (ODEPA, which became Panam Sports), president of the Central American and Caribbean Softball Confederation (CONCACAS), and member of the executive committee of the International Softball FederationHe was also chef de mission at the Munich and Montreal Olympic Games, and received the Olympic Order in 2014.
