Jacques Rogge was the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 2001 to 2013.
- Died: August 29, 2021 (Who else died on August 29?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 79.
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Olympics and more
During his youth, Rogge was an athlete in his home country of Belgium. He was a national champion in rugby as well as a sailor, who represented Belgium in sailing the Summer Olympics of 1968, 1972, and 1976. Later, he became an orthopedic surgeon. He began serving on Belgium’s Olympic committee and was named its president in 1989. Rogge also became president of the European Olympic Committee in 1989, serving until he was named head of the IOC in 2001. He was the first IOC president to stay in the Olympic Village with the athletes, beginning at the 2002 Winter Olympics. He was also known for his zero-tolerance policy on drugs and doping, and he helped create the Youth Olympic Games, which debuted in 2010. After his IOC presidency, Rogge was named the United Nations’ Special Envoy for Youth Refugees and Sport.
Notable quote
“I think medals are important, but they are not everything. They do not replace what I would call the educational aspect of sport, because sport is a great educational tool. Sport is a great social integrator, it is socializing young people, and it is based on values.” —from a 2008 interview for the Vancouver Sun
Tributes to Jacques Rogge
Full obituary: The Washington Post
