Former IOC President Dr. Jacques Rogge passed away

Berchtesgaden (FIL) The Honorary President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Dr Jacques Rogge (Belgium), has passed away at the age of 79. Rogge was the eighth President of the International Olympic Committee and held office from 2001 to 2013.

Dr Rogge was an orthopaedic surgeon with a degree in sports medicine. As successful athlete, Rogge represented Belgium at three Olympic Games in sailing (1968, 1972 and 1976).

After his sporting career, he became President of the Belgian Olympic Committee and the European Olympic Committee and, following his term as IOC President, was also Special Representative for Youth, Refugees and Sport at the United Nations.

FIL Honorary President Josef Fendt said: "I deeply regret the death of Jacques Rogge and express our heartfelt condolences to his wife and family. The FIL and I as President had a very good relationship with Jacques Rogge, who loved the sport as a whole very much and also stood by us in our darkest hour, after the fatal accident of our Georgian sports friend Nodar Kumaritashvili in Vancouver 2010".

As a medical doctor, Jacques Rogge fought hard for clean sport and was committed to sports youth. The introduction of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) was mainly due to his commitment.