Brussels, August 29 (QNA) - Jacques Rogge, who led the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 2001 to 2013, has died at the age of 79.
Rogge, a native of Belgium, succeeded Juan Antonio Samaranch (1980-2001) as the eighth president in the organization's history as the IOC recovered from the Salt Lake City corruption scandal. Current president Thomas Bach took over from Rogge in 2013.
"Jacques loved sport and being with athletes and he transmitted this passion to everyone who knew him. His joy in sport was infectious," Bach said in a statement.
"He was an accomplished President, helping to modernize and transform the IOC," Bach's statement continued. "He will be remembered particularly for championing youth sport and for inaugurating the Youth Olympic Games." Before his presidency, Rogge headed the European group and Belgian Olympic committees. He was also an orthopedic surgeon with a degree in sports medicine.
As an athlete, Rogge played rugby for the national team and won a Belgian championship. He was a successful sailor, with 16 national titles and one world championship; Rogge competed in the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Olympics in the men's Finn class. (QNA)