Former president Samaranch asks IOC to consider his age and pick Madrid for the 2016 Olympics

Samaranch asks IOC to give Madrid the Olympics

COPENHAGEN — Former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch has asked the International Olympic Committee to consider his age and award Madrid the 2016 Games.

The 89-year-old Samaranch says he is “very near the end on my time.”

Samaranch asked the IOC “to consider (guaranteeing) my country the honor and also the duty to organize the games and Paralympics in 2016.”

Samaranch spoke Friday ahead of a secret ballot to choose between the Spanish capital, Chicago, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo for the right to host the 2016 Olympics.