Ma Yuehan was a pioneer in developing China's Olympic movement.

In 1936, Ma was honored as the head coach of the Chinese sports delegation to the 11th Olympic Games in Berlin. It was a significant moment for China's Olympic development as the country sent a 139-member delegation, consisting of 69 competitors in athletics, swimming, basketball, soccer, weightlifting, boxing and cycling, plus 34 observers and 11 performers of traditional martial arts.

In 1949, Ma was elected vice-chairman of the All China Athletic Federation and shouldered the burden of lifting China's performances on the world's stage.

"I hope one day Chinese athletes are able to win gold medals at the Olympics and, one day, China is able to host an Olympics," Ma said when he took over the job.

Ma also passed his passion for sports and the Olympics to his son, Ma Qiwei.

Ma Jr was the head coach of the China women's volleyball team from 1951. Thanks to his contributions to volleyball and sports psychology, he was later made vice-president of the Chinese Olympic Committee and Chinese Volleyball Association.

Ma also inspired his son-in-law, Mou Zuoyun, to take part in sports. Mou played basketball at the 1936 and 1948 Olympic Games. He was appointed head coach of the Chinese national team in 1951 and later became a lifetime FIBA honorary member.

In 1980, the IOC asked China to provide a three-candidate list for IOC membership.

Ma Jr and Mou were on the list.

(China Daily 07/01/2012 page24)