- It is with profound sadness that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has learnt 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.
"VAN" (Sports Desk - 16.02.2026) :: Elected as an IOC Member in 1998, he served the IOC until 2014 and became an Honorary Member in 2015. During his tenure, he was a member of the IOC Commissions for Women and Sport (2002–2015) and for Culture and Olympic Education (2006–2015), contributing to the promotion of Olympic values and education.
“Melitón Sánchez Rivas has served the Olympic Movement with great passion. He was immensely proud of his many years of service to the Olympic Movement and spoke with great affection of his colleagues and the friendships he built within the IOC over the decades. He will be greatly missed,” IOC President Kirsty Coventry said.
Mr Sánchez Rivas devoted much of his life to the service of sport and the Olympic Movement in Panama and across the Americas. He served the Panamanian National Olympic Committee with exceptional dedication over several decades: Treasurer from 1972 to 1980, President from 1982 to 2007, and thereafter Honorary President for Life. Under his leadership, the Olympic Movement in Panama was strengthened and consolidated, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations of athletes.
His contribution extended well beyond his home country. He was Treasurer and later Executive Board Member of the Pan-American Sports Organisation (PASO), served as President and later Treasurer of the Bolivarian Sports Organisation (ODEBO), and led the Central American Sports Organisation (ORDECA). He also presided over the Central American and Caribbean Softball Confederation (CONCACAS) and, within the International Softball Federation (ISF), served as Vice-President for Latin America and later as an Executive Board Member.
A practitioner of baseball and softball, he began his long journey in sports administration as an organiser and director of softball and baseball leagues between 1965 and 1975. From 1972 to 1982, he acted as Chef de Mission at several major Games, including the Olympic Games in Munich and Montreal, the Pan-American Games, and the Central American and Caribbean Games.
Born on 8 November 1934, Mr Sánchez Rivas was a Certified Public Accountant by profession. He founded and served as General Manager of Sánchez Rivas & Associates, and held senior accounting and financial leadership positions throughout his distinguished career, including as Accounting Director of Venpana, S.A. at the Colon Free Zone, Controller and Accounting Director of Grupo Biskayna, S.A., and as an International Accounting Services Consultant.
His dedication to sport was recognised with numerous distinctions, including the Olympic Order (2014), the Order of Merit from the Association of National Olympic Committees, PASO and ORDECA, election to the ISF Hall of Fame in 1991, and several national and international honours. He was awarded the Keys to the cities of Caracas, Cochabamba and Panama City, as well as the Trophée “Mártires de Barbado” from the State Council of the Cuban Republic and the Order of Merit of the Guatemala National Olympic Committee.
The IOC extends its deepest sympathies to his family, friends and to the entire Olympic community in Panama and the Americas. His long-standing commitment to sport and to the Olympic ideals will be remembered with respect and gratitude.
As a mark of respect, the Olympic flag will be flown at half-mast for three days at Olympic House in Lausanne.
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