JO-Former IOC President Rogge dies at 79 | World news

(Reuters) – Former President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge has died at the age of 79, the IOC said on Sunday.

Rogge was the eighth IOC President from 2001 to 2013 and became the organization’s Honorary President.

“First and foremost, Jacques loved sport and being with athletes – and he passed that passion on to everyone who knew him. His joy of sport was contagious,” said IOC President Thomas Bach https: //olympics.com/ioc/news/ the ioc-announces-the-death-of-the-former-president-of-ioc-jacques-rogge.

“He was an accomplished President, helping to modernize and transform the IOC. He will be particularly remembered for championing youth sport and for inaugurating the Youth Olympic Games.

“He was also a strong supporter of clean sport and has fought tirelessly against the harms of doping … The entire Olympic Movement will mourn deeply the loss of a great friend and sports enthusiast.”

Rogge, a former orthopedic surgeon, represented the Belgian national rugby team and was 16 times Belgian national champion and world champion in sailing. He competed in sailing at three Olympic Games, in 1968, 1972 and 1976, in the Finn class.

He then became President of the Belgian and European Olympic Committees before being elected President of the IOC, and was Special Envoy for Youth, Refugees and Sport to the United Nations after his Presidency of the IOC.

The IOC said it will fly the Olympic flag at half mast at Olympic House, the Olympic Museum and all of its other properties for five days in respect for Rogge, with a public memorial to be held later in the year.

Rogge is survived by his wife Anne, son, daughter and two grandchildren.

(Reporting by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru; editing by Clare Fallon)

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