Barcelona: International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch will return to the Sydney Games early on Tuesday after attending a funeral service in Barcelona for his wife Maria Teresa Salisachs.

Samaranch and the couple's son and daughter were among a congregation of more than 500 people to attend the service at a Barcelona church on Monday. His wife died on Sunday at 69.

Also present at the service were former Barcelona mayor Pasqual Maragall, Football Club Barcelona president Joan Gaspart and his predecessor, Josep Lluis Nunez.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and Queen Sofia were among the visitors to the Samaranch-Salisachs house on Sunday.

At the end of the short service for Salisachs, a visibly tired Samaranch, with his hands behind his back, stood at the altar surrounded by his family to receive condolences from the mourners.

As he left the church, Samaranch confirmed that he would return to Australia. "I'm now going home to rest," said the Spaniard. "Tomorrow morning I'll travel back to Sydney. I feel a strong sense of responsibility for the Games."

He added, "The funeral was a great show of sympathy for my wife. She was well known here. She loved the city of Barcelona."

A private cremation ceremony was held in the Montjuic district on Sunday. Montjuic was the site of the Barcelona Games in 1992 and the Olympic flag was flown there at half-mast.

Samaranch travelled back to Barcelona on Saturday after learning that his wife's condition had worsened.

He was informed of her death while still on the plane, which landed in the early hours of Sunday.



(c) Reuters Limited.