Rong Gaotang, former deputy sports minister, and recipient of a Silver Olympic Order in 1983, was cremated in Beijing on Thursday. He died last Wednesday in Beijing at the age of 94.

Born in 1912 in rural Hebei Province, Rong joined the Communist Party of China in 1936 and rose to be vice chairman of the All China Sports Federation after the founding of the people's republic.

While in office, Rong led the first Chinese delegation to participate in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

But Rong, like many other ranking officials, was persecuted during the turbulent 10-year Cultural Revolution that ended in 1976. Three years later, Rong was reinstated and appointed vice minister of the State Physical Culture and Sports Commission.

In 1983, he won the Silver Olympic Order from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Rong was elected secretary-general of the CPC Central Advisory Committee the same year.

Chinese president Hu Jintao and other senior officials have expressed their condolences to Rong's family.

Source: Xinhua