Jacques Rogge

Jacques Rogge (born May 2, 1942) is a Belgian orthopaedic surgeon and has been the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 2001.

Related Topics:
May 2 - 1942 - Belgian - Orthopaedic - Surgeon - International Olympic Committee - 2001

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Born in Ghent, living in Deinze, Rogge competed in yachting in the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics, and played on the Belgian rugby team. Rogge served as president of the Belgian Olympic Committee from 1989 to 1992, and as president of the European Olympic Committees from 1989 to 2001. He became a member of the IOC in 1991 and joined the Executive Board in 1998.

Related Topics:
Ghent - Deinze - Yachting - 1968 - 1972 - 1976 Summer Olympics - Rugby - Belgian Olympic Committee - 1989 - 1992 - European Olympic Committees - 2001 - 1991 - Executive Board - 1998

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Rogge was elected as president of the IOC on July 16, 2001 at the IOC session in Moscow as the successor to Juan Antonio Samaranch, who had led the IOC since 1980.

Related Topics:
July 16 - 2001 - Moscow - Juan Antonio Samaranch - 1980

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One of the core points of his IOC policy has been to limit the number of participants in the Summer Olympics to its current size of about 10,000. He has said that he will show no tolerance toward corruption and doping. At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Rogge became the first IOC President to stay in the Athlete's village, instead of the lavish 5-star hotels that many IOC members prefer. Rogge also acted decisively in handling the judging and doping scandals, much to the chagrin of several European countries (France, Russia) who had assumed that their influence inside the IOC would prevent their offending athletes from disqualification. As a result, the first Olympic games under Rogge's watch was hailed by many critics as a new era in the Olympics as it sent a message that the IOC would not tolerate corruption.

Related Topics:
Doping - 2002 Winter Olympics

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Under his term, baseball and softball have been suspended from the Olympics. Replacement sports have yet to be decided.

Related Topics:
Baseball - Softball

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Jacques Rogge was knighted and given the title of count by the Belgian King Albert II.

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