1980s, Rieckehoff traveled to Lausanne, Switzerland and at the International Olympic Committee headquarters, he requested that the 2004 Olympic Games be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He pointed out that the success of the Pan American Games held in the island had proved that Puerto Rico had the facilities capable of holding an event such as the Olympics. The Committee took his request into consideration but, after some years of studying the situation, decided for Athens, Greece to hold the games instead. Rieckehoff indicated in a speech that he feared that sports professionals were gaining more control than the partisans of the Olympics. He also believed that the salaried professionals and administrators automatically thought that they knew what was best for the Olympics, when in reality the partisans were the ones with the proper knowledge. On September 2, 1997, Germán Rieckehoff was in Lausanne, Switzerland when he fell ill. He was rushed on an ambulance plane with his wife, Irma Gonzalez, a sports leader in her own right, and son Germán, but died on the flight. His remains were returned to Puerto Rico, where he received a hero's funeral. He was survived by his wife, Irma, who died on May 3, 2006, their children, Angelita, Germán and Juan Adolfo Rieckehoff. Honors and recognitions In his honor, the Albergue Olympico (Salinas, Puerto Rico) was renamed and is now known as the "Germán Rieckehoff Albergue Olympico", which also houses his gravesite, where his remains lie along with those of his wife. There is also a Germán Rieckehoff High School in Vieques and one in Virginia. On August 16, 2003 the Puerto Rican Legislature passed Law # 182 which established the "Germán Rieckehoff Sampayo Medal" of the Puerto Rican Legislative Assembly for excellence in sports. The medal is to be presented annually the sportsperson whose local or international accomplishments have helped keep the image of Puerto Rican sports among the best. Author Raul Mayo Santana wrote Rieckehoff's biography in a book titled El Juguete Sagrado: Germán Rieckehoff Sampayo Vida y leyenda. See also List of Puerto Ricans German immigration to Puerto Rico Carlos Vélez Rieckehoff Notes o Santana ; Publication Date: January 2000; References Further reading "El Juguete Sagrado: Germán Rieckehoff Sampayo Vida y leyenda"; Author: Raul May External links Germán Rieckeoff Sampayo medal Battle for Vieques 1915 births 1997 deaths Presidents of the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee Puerto Rican male swimmers