Michael Morris, 3rd Baron Killanin

Michael Morris, 3rd Baron Killanin, MBE (30 July 1914 – 25 April 1999) was an Irish journalist and sports official, the sixth president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). He succeeded his uncle as Baron Killanin in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1927.

Lord Killanin was born in London, a member of one of the fourteen families making up the Tribes of Galway. He was educated at Eton College, the Sorbonne in Paris and then Magdalene College, Cambridge. In the late 1930s, he began his career as a journalist, working for the Daily Express and subsequently the Daily Mail. In 1937-1938, he was war correspondent during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

In 1938, he enrolled as volunteer in the British Army serving during all World War II in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps; he also filled the post of brigadier of the 30 Armoured Brigade, and took part in the Battle of Normandy, receiving by the course of operations the Order of the British Empire. After being demobilized, he returned to Ireland.

In 1950, he became the head of the Olympic Council of Ireland, and became his country's representative in the IOC in 1952. He climbed up to senior vice-president in 1968, and was elected president of the IOC in 1972, following the Munich Olympics, which were overshadowed by the Munich Massacre.

During his presidency, the Olympic movement experienced a difficult period, dealing with the financial flop of the 1976 Montréal Olympics and the boycotts of the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Seen from IOC's point of interest, worse decisions were taken. The cities of Lake Placid, New York and Los Angeles were 'chosen' for 1980 winter and 1984 summer games without any competing cities, resulting in a demanding position of the IOC - instead of a claiming one. He resigned after the Moscow Olympics in 1980, and his position was taken over by Juan Antonio Samaranch.

Lord Killanin was also a director of many companies and dabbled in the film industry, collaborating with his lifelong friend, John Ford, on "The Quiet Man".

He died at his home in Dublin aged 84 and, following a funeral service in Spiddal, County Galway, he was buried in the family vault in the New Cemetery, Galway.