Former IOC president Jacques Rogge (79) passed away | Sport

sport">The Belgian headed the International Olympic Committee from 2001 to 2013. He was the eighth IOC president.

sport">As a sailor in the Finn class, Rogge competed in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, 1972 in Munich and 1976 in Montreal. He once became world champion in the Finn class. Rye was also a rugby player. He played ten times for the Belgian team.

sport">After his career as a sailor, Rogge became active as a director in the sport. He was president of the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (BOIC) from 1990 to 1992. In 1991 he became a member of the IOC. Ten years later, he succeeded Spaniard Juan Antonio Samaranch as president of the IOC. Rogge was re-elected for a second term in 2009 and after twelve years he was succeeded by the German Thomas Bach.

“The entire Olympic movement mourns the loss of a great friend and passionate fan of the sport”

sport">“First and foremost, Jacques loved sports and being with athletes. He passed on that passion to everyone who knew him,” the current chairman Bach remembers his predecessor. “His passion for sports was infectious.”

sport">According to Bach, Rogge was a president who helped reform and modernize the IOC. “He will be especially remembered for his efforts for youth sports and for establishing the Youth Olympic Games. In addition, he was a fierce champion of clean sport and fought tirelessly against doping.”

sport">“The entire Olympic movement mourns the loss of a great friend and passionate fan of the sport,” said Bach.

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