Wei Jizhong, President of world volleyball governing body FIVB, said the federation will always remember former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch as a guider of the sport.

In a letter of condolence that Wei sent to IOC chief Jacques Rogge following the death of Samaranch on Wednesdy, the FIVB boss discribed the Spaniard an excellent example of an international sports leader.

"The passing of President Samaranch is a big loss particularly with regards to the Olympic movement; The FIVB has always considered him as a leader of not only the Olympic movement but also of the FIVB, who has guided volleyball, especially beach volleyball to today's achievements," said Wei in the letter.

"President Samaranch is the founder of the contemporary Olympic movement if Baron Coubertin was the founder of the modern Olympic movement.

"As FIVB President, I have learnt a lot from President Samaranch. I remain always his student," he added.

Having led the IOC in 1980-2001, Samaranch died at 89 in a Barcelona hospital on Wednesday.