Juan Antonio Samaranch has been made honorary life president of the IOC.

Samaranch was also awarded the gold Olympic order - the IOC's highest honour - as he stood down after 21 years at the head of the Olympic movement.

In addition, the IOC's 100-plus delegates approved the proposal to rename the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, as the Samaranch Museum.

Honorary life president is a title that was also conferred on Samaranch's late predecessor, Lord Killanin.

"Thank you for your generosity," Samaranch said after the decisions were announced.

"I will be always at the disposal of the new president and the executive board if they need my advice, if they need my collaboration."

Samaranch's future role

Samaranch hopes to attend executive board meetings after his retirement.

Senior officials put forward a proposal asking for Samaranch to continue to be allowed to attend meetings of the ruling executive board in his role as honorary life president.

New supremo Jacques Rogge added: "The president, having a special position in the IOC as an honorary life president, will be invited to attend the executive board meetings.

"I had exactly the same situation in my national Olympic committee with my predecessor."