Steve Parry, former Reuters sports editor, has died today aged 64, Reuters has reported.

Parry, who worked for the media group for 34 years, was sports editor from 1982 until his retirement in 2000.

He had been suffering from a respiratory illness and died in hospital.

Parry joined Reuters’ London sports desk in 1966 and was appointed sports news editor in 1977.

After leaving the group, he became a consultant for the International Olympic Committee.

His death comes on the eve of the Beijing Olympics – an event Parry had covered on the previous 10 occasions, attending his first Summer Games in Mexico City in 1968.

“We at Reuters are devastated by the news. Steve was one of the finest journalists Reuters ever had and one of the greatest men I ever knew,” said Paul Radford, Reuters current sports editor and Parry’s former deputy.

“He was one of the most revered and respected personalities in the world of sports journalism and a monumental figure in the Olympic movement.”