 A member of the Executive Board (1970–1978 and 1979–1980), he was IOC Vice-President from 1974 to 1978.Elected to the IOC presidency in the first round of voting on 16 July 1980 at the 83rd Session, he succeeded Lord Killanin on 3 August that year.Samaranch acceded to the IOC presidency during the troubled political period of the Games of the XXII Olympiad in Moscow.