Carrasquilla joined the IOC in 1988 and was a fully-fledged member for 18 years before he became an honorary member in 2006, and he has occupied numerous positions within the South American sports movement, including that of President of the Colombian National Olympic Committee from 1979 to 1989.

He also sat on the IOC Medical Commission for the majority of his time as an IOC member and the International Olympic Academy Commission for one year.

The Colombian was also treasurer of the Pan-American Sports Organization (PASO) and he founded the Bogota Baseball League in 1969, of which he was President for 10 years in another example of his large sporting presence in the country.

"Fidel Mendoza Carrasquilla was a pioneer and a fervent campaigner for sport in his home country of Colombia and throughout South America," IOC President Thomas Bach said.

"He understood the power of sport to change people's lives and he worked tirelessly to bring its values across South America.

"He was a great man and a great servant of sport who gave his time and energy to the Olympic Movement.

"His warm and friendly personality was highly appreciated by all the IOC members. He will be sadly missed by us all."

IOC President Thomas Bach says Carrasquilla's "warm and friendly personality" will be missed" ©Getty Images



Outside of sport, Carrasquilla obtained a doctorate in medicine and surgery from the National University of Bogota in 1953, before he went on to specialise in internal medicine. 

He was also an Air Force physician for 26 years.

His main background comes in medicine and he combined that with sport to be a team doctor for various Colombian delegations, and in his free time he often practised both baseball and softball.

The IOC has expressed deepest sympathy for Carrasquilla's family.

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