BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Tributes flowed for Patrick Baumann, the secretary general of basketball's world governing body, after his sudden death on Sunday.

Baumann died of a heart attack in Buenos Aires, where he was working at the Youth Olympics in his role as president of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). He was 51.

"Basketball has lost a leader, an advocate and a friend and our thoughts are with Patrick's wife and two children at this tragic time," the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) said in a statement.

IOC president Thomas Bach said: "We lose a young and sympathetic leader full of hope who was standing for the future of sport. Our thoughts are with his wife, his children and his family."

Baumann, who was FIBA's top official for 15 years and an IOC committee member since 2007, was considered by many as a potential IOC president.

His importance within the IOC's ranks grew significantly in recent years. The Swiss headed an IOC panel that analyzed the Paris and Los Angeles bids for the 2024 Olympics and in recent months took charge of preparations for the Los Angeles' 2028 Games.

"Patrick was a partner and a friend," LA 2028 chairman Casey Wasserman said in a statement. "He is gone too soon and will be greatly missed."

The Buenos Aires 2018 organizing committee described Baumann as a "pioneering" and "visionary" sports administrator.

"Patrick was a brilliant sport leader and a great person. I was greatly honoured that he considered me his friend," said Gerardo Werthein, president of the Buenos Aires 2018 Organising Committee.

"My sincere condolences to his loved ones and to all those who, like me, are saddened by this sudden loss," he added.

Baumann was also president of the organizing committee for the Youth Olympic Games Lausanne 2020 and headed international sports' federations union SportAccord.