Gent (pps) On Tuesday, May 8, 2007 Jacques Rogge, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), celebrated his 65th birthday. The Belgian has been presiding over the committee since 2001. "Rogge’s merits are enormous", explained IOC Vice-President Dr. Thomas Bach from Germany.
Jacques Rogge celebrated his 65th birthday in private with his family. However, his favorite gift was given to him earlier: In Beijing, the Executive Board approved the IOC President’s plan to organize Youth Olympic Games from 2010 on. The competitions for 14 to 18 year-olds are supposed to focus on ideals such as friendship and fair play to a greater extent than the „real“ Games can.
Rogge, who was often underestimated as an “idealist”, has demonstrated his assertiveness on various occasions. During their power struggle for the succession to the former IOC President Samaranch, he forcefully stood up to his rivals Dick Pound (Canada) and Kim Un-Yong (South Korea).
Neither did the orthopedic surgeon avoid crucial changes when he restructured the IOC headquarters with a new General Director. He has made marketing and television contracts Presidential matters; the financial situation of the IOC is as sound as never before.