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Agence France-Presse

Jacques Rogge, who spent 12 years as president of the International Olympic Committee, has died at the age of 79, the organisation announced on Sunday.
“It is with great sadness that the International Olympic Committee announces the passing of former IOC president count Jacques Rogge. He was 79 years old,” said an IOC statement.
Rogge was the eighth president of the IOC, from 2001 to 2013, after which he was succeeded by Thomas Bach.
“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,” said Bach on Sunday.
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“He was an accomplished president, helping to modernise and transform the IOC. 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.

“The entire Olympic Movement will deeply mourn the loss of a great friend and a passionate fan of sport.”
Rogge was an orthopaedic surgeon with a degree in sports medicine.
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He also played rugby at international level, winning 16 caps for Belgium and became a world champion sailor.
It was on the water that he took part in three Olympics in 1968, 1972 and 1976.
After his career as an athlete he became president of the Belgian and European Olympic Committees, and was elected president of the IOC in 2001.
After his IOC presidency, he served as a Special Envoy for Youth, Refugees and Sport to the United Nations.
Rogge was married to Anne and he leaves behind a son, a daughter and two grandchildren.
The Belgian political world also paid tribute on Sunday to Rogge who had been knighted in 2002 by the sovereign of the time, King Albert II.

“Rest in peace Jacques Rogge. Remarkable sportsman, guardian of fair play. Support for his family and his friends”, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo wrote on Twitter.
Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden hailed “a great figurehead of the Olympic idea”.
“Your legacy will be etched in the memory of many generations of athletes,” she added.
The town of Deinze, in the region of Ghent, where Rogge lived, will open a book of condolences from Monday, said its mayor Jan Vermeulen on Sunday evening, expressing “comfort and support” to the family of the deceased.


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IOC (International Olympic Committee)

Former IOC president Jacques Rogge, ‘remarkable sportsman, guardian of fair play’, dead at 79

Jacques Rogge, then president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), speaks at the closing ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Photo: DPA

(FILES) In this file photo taken on September 04, 2013, outgoing International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge laughs during a press conference in Buenos Aires. - Former International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge died at the age of 79, the IOC announced on August 29, 2021. Rogge was the eighth President of the IOC, from 2001 to 2013 after which he was succeeded by Thomas Bach. (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP)

FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013 file photo, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge shows the name of the city of Tokyo elected to host the 2020 Summer Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The International Olympic Committee on Sunday, Aug, 29, 2021 says Jacques Rogge who led the organization as president for 12 years, has died. He was 79. (Fabrice Coffrini/Pool photo via AP, file)

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Kai Tak Sports Park is a multi-purpose sports venue that is being built at the site of the former Kai Tak Airport in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The sports park will be located on the north western part of the old Kai Tak Airport. 22JUL21 SCMP/Martin Chan

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(091026) -- JINAN, Oct. 26, 2009 (Xinhua) -- Wong Kam-po from China's Hong Kong jubilates after the men's mass start event of road cycling at the 11th Chinese National Games in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, Oct. 26, 2009. Huang claimed the title with 5 hours 35 minutes and 09 seconds. (Xinhua/Li Gang) (ly)

Hong Kong BMX rider Stephen Wong gets the gold medal at the BMX racing of the 10th National Games, Nanjing, China. 11 October 2005

(170827) -- TIANJIN, Aug. 27, 2017 (Xinhua) -- A spectator takes photos during the opening ceremony of the 13th Chinese National Games in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Aug. 27, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei) (dhf)

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Fireworks light up the sky above the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Photo: AFP

China's team arrives during the opening ceremony for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on August 24, 2021. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)

Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games - The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony - Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - August 24, 2021. General view during the parade at the opening ceremony. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

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Belgian political class pays tribute to ‘accomplished president’
Rogge was the eighth president of the IOC, from 2001 to 2013



Belgian political class pays tribute to ‘accomplished president’, who was the eight helmsman of the Olympic movement from 2001 to 2013.


Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Former IOC president Jacques Rogge, ‘remarkable sportsman, guardian of fair play’, dead at 79

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Belgian political class pays tribute to ‘accomplished president’ Rogge was the eighth president of the IOC, from 2001 to 2013

Belgian political class pays tribute to ‘accomplished president’

Rogge was the eighth president of the IOC, from 2001 to 2013