Former IOC President Jacques Rogge Passes Away

New Delhi: On Sunday, the Olympic family faced a very sad moment, when they came to know that former President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge Passed away at the age of 79. He served the IOC for 12 years as the eighth president. He led the IOC from 2001 to 2013 after the much popular Juan Antonio Samaranch of Spain. Samaranch held the post of IOC president for 21 years. The Olympic flag will be thrown at half-mast at all IOC properties for five days as a mark of respect. A public memorial service is set to be held later this year to remember his life and celebrate his contribution to the sport. He was married to Anne and had a son, daughter and two grandchildren.

Rogge was an Olympian, who represented Belgium in Sailing in three Olympic Games 1968, 1972 and 1976 in Finn Class. Rogge was also a 16-times national champion and a world champion in the sport. He also competed on the international stage for Belgium in rugby.

Rogge moved into sports administration, serving as President of both the Belgium Olympic Committee and European Olympic Committees. Rogge worked as an orthopedic surgeon and earned a degree in sports medicine.

IOC President Thomas Bach, who paid rich tribute to Rogge said,” First and foremost, Jacques loved sport and being with athletes - and he transmitted this passion to everyone who knew him. His joy in sport was infectious. He was an accomplished President, helping to modernize and transform the IOC. He will be remembered particularly for championing youth sport and for inaugurating the Youth Olympic Games. He was also a fierce proponent of clean sport and fought tirelessly against the evils of doping. Since we were elected as IOC members together we shared a wonderful bond of friendship, and this continued until his last days, when the entire Olympic Movement and I could still benefit from his contribution, in particular on the Board of the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage. The entire Olympic Movement will deeply mourn the loss of a great friend and a passionate fan of the sport."

After standing down as President of the IOC, Rogge was made an Honorary President of the organization, while also standing as Special Envoy for Youth, Refugees and Sport to the United Nations.