The IOC has paid tribute to its honorary member Fernando Lima Bello of Portugal, who has died aged 89 ©olympics.com

The Olympic flag is being flown at half-mast at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne to mark the death of Portugal’s IOC honorary member Fernando F Lima Bello aged 89.

Lima Bello was a world champion sailor in the Snipe class in 1953 and competed at two Olympic Games, Mexico City 1968 and Munich 1972, in the Dragon class.

He was later a member of the International Sailing Federation - now World Sailing - and President of the Olympic Committee of Portugal.

IOC President Thomas Bach said: "I got to know Fernando when he was part of the Evaluation Commission for the Olympic Games Athens 2004.

"He was not only a very good friend but someone who always knew every last detail of the entire dossier.

"He was someone who worked tirelessly to ensure the best conditions for the athletes and who always strove to promote the Olympic values."

The Portuguese sailor also played football and tennis, and enjoyed a successful professional career in civil engineering.

His sporting achievements also included a second place at the European Championships in the Star class and National Championships in Star, Dragon and Sharpie 12m².

IOC President Thomas Bach has praised the tireless work of the late Fernando Lima Bello of Portugal, the IOC honorary member who has died aged 89, always did for athletes ©Getty Images
IOC President Thomas Bach has praised the tireless work of the late Fernando Lima Bello of Portugal, the IOC honorary member who has died aged 89, always did for athletes ©Getty Images

On the administration side, he was a sailing inspector for the Portuguese Youth Organisation, a chairman of the jury of the World Sailing Championships (Finn, 420, Cadet) and chairman of the Portuguese Sailing Federation technical committee - eventually becoming President of the National Federation.

Lima Bello’s involvement with the Olympic Movement in Portugal started in 1975 with his appointment as a member of the National Olympic Committee (NOC).

He later joined the NOC’s Executive Board from 1977 to 1980, when he attended the 1980 Moscow Olympics as Chef de Mission for the Portuguese team.

One year later, he was elected President of the Olympic Committee of Portugal, a position he held until 1989, the year of his election as an IOC member.

During his 21-year tenure at the IOC, he was a member of Commissions with mostly a strong focus on the cultural and educational aspects of the Olympic Movement: Cultural (1985-1999), International Olympic Academy and Olympic Education (1990-1999), Eligibility (1992-1993), Evaluation for the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad in 2004 (1996), and Culture and Olympic Education (2000-2010).

He had been an IOC honorary member since 2010.