'Anti-Corruption Efforts and Pyeongchang Olympic Announcement' Jacques Rogge, Former IOC President, Passes Away

Published 30 Aug.2021 06:38(KST)

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Jacques Rogge, former International Olympic Committee (IOC) chairman, has passed away at the age of 79.

The IOC announced the news of Rogge's passing on the 29th (local time). The exact cause of death has not been disclosed.

Thomas Bach, IOC president, expressed his condolences in a statement on the same day, emphasizing, "Jacques loved sports and being with athletes, and he conveyed that passion to everyone he knew."

He continued, "He was an outstanding chairman who helped modernize and reform the IOC," and praised him by saying, "He supported clean sports and tirelessly fought against doping."

Rogge, who led the IOC from 2001 to 2013, was known as "Mr. Clean" for his efforts to eradicate doping and bribery during his tenure.

He represented Belgium as a national yacht athlete, competing in three consecutive Olympics in 1968, 1972, and 1976, and also played as a national rugby player.

He was the first Olympic athlete to become the head of the IOC and was an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine.

After being elected as an IOC member in 1991, he took the lead in anti-doping campaigns as part of the medical commission, and when a bribery scandal related to the 1998 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics bid broke out, he led the movement for IOC reform.

In 2001, he became chairman just 10 years after joining the IOC, surpassing strong contenders such as then-IOC vice president Kim Un-yong. He left a deep impression on the international sports community by responding with a "zero tolerance policy" to corruption, doping, illegal sports gambling, and match-fixing.

During his tenure, the IOC not only restored financial soundness but also renewed the organization to cleanse its image of corruption, and is regarded as having experienced a relatively prosperous period.

Rogge also had ties with Korea.

[Image source=IOC YouTube capture]

He was the one who announced at the IOC General Assembly held in Durban, South Africa in 2011 that "Pyeongchang" was selected as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

The first-ever Summer Olympics held in South America (2016 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Russia's first Winter Olympics (2014 Sochi) also took place during his tenure. This is why he is credited with greatly expanding the Olympic base.