IOC boss ready to assist Africa
Jan 10, 2007
WORLD sports governing bodies like the International Olympic Committee have for long been synonymous with opulence.<br>Five star hotels, first class travel and expensive gifts come to mind at the mention of the lifestyle of those who are in charge of the world’s most powerful sports body.
Jacques Rogge profile:
Born: 2-5-1942,
in Ghent, Belgium
Marital Status
Married, two children
Education
Doctor of Medicine;
degree in sports medicine
Languages
Flemish, French, English, Spanish and German.
Career
Orthopedic surgeon
Sports career
Yachting: Competitor in the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Olympics, Winner of the yachting World Cadet Trophy. Rugby: Player of the Belgian national team.
Sports administration
President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) 1989-2001; President of the NOC 1989-1992
IOC
Member of the executive board since 1998; Elected IOC president in 2001
IOC info
Affiliates: 203 countries
Disciplines:
35 sports, 400 events
WORLD sports governing bodies like the International Olympic Committee have for long been synonymous with opulence.
Five star hotels, first class travel and expensive gifts come to mind at the mention of the lifestyle of those who are in charge of the world’s most powerful sports body.
Jacques Rogge, the current IOC boss, who arrives in Uganda today on a two-day visit, is however not into such lavishness.
Described as a mild-mannered hands-on administrator, the Belgian is from that generation that strongly believes that it’s the athlete and not the officials who should enjoy the splendour.
At the 2002 Winter Olympics in salt Lake City, Rogge became the first IOC President to stay in the Athletes’ village, instead of the lavish hotels that most IOC members prefer.
This humility should play to Uganda’s favour. Various local sports stakeholders led by the minister will during his stay get the IOC boss’ attention.
But underneath Rogge’s modesty is an iron that has had him acting decisively on key issues since his election in 2001.
He is uncompromising on doping to the chagrin of several powers who had assumed that their influence inside IOC would prevent their offending athletes from punishments.
As a result, the Olympic games under Rogge’s presidency have been hailed by critics as a new era in the Olympic movement. The message was clear – IOC would not tolerate corruption.
But perhaps what Uganda should bank on for fruitful results from their meetings with the IOC boss, is the special attention he has for the developing world.
Rogge wants to see Africa advance. While making his first trip to Africa in 2005, he urged African nations to bid for the 2016 Olympics.
He expressed his hope for the games to go “as soon as possible†to Africa for the first time.
Hosting the games in Africa would help improve conditions in a continent that is battling against poverty and lack of key infrastructure.
“The games are more than just a sporting event, they are also an occasion for a city to upgrade itself,†Rogge was quoted in China’s People’s Daily.
Rogge’s strong feelings for sport certainly have a lot to do with his 10 years as a top flight athlete.
His involvement with the Olympics stretches back to 1968 at the Mexico games where he represented Belgium in yachting.
He was back at the next games in Munich and Montreal. His best moment came when he became world champion.
Rogge also showed his prowess in rugby where he earned 10 caps for the Belgian national side.
The 64-year-old Orthopedic surgeon moved to the administrative ranks of the Olympics in 1989 when he became president of European Olympic Committee.
It was however not until 2000 that Rogge hit global headlines as an administrator. At the Sydney games where he was chief coordinator he helped mastermind what former IOC boss Juan Antonio Samaranch described as “the best games everâ€.
Unlike other IOC members, Rogge has not courted controversy. He emerged with no dark spot following the Salt Lake City scandal that saw 10 members resign.
That Rogge is giving Uganda audience, is a big boost to a country that has for two decades been struggling in sports.
His presence is therefore a golden opportunity for local stakeholders to lobby for financial and technical assistance.
But whether the country can optimally utilise Rogge’s presence is another issue. Uganda’s 20 sports federations that are affiliated to Uganda Olympic Committee will have two hours to present their case.
That sounds too brief.
Born: 2-5-1942,
in Ghent, Belgium
Marital Status
Married, two children
Education
Doctor of Medicine;
degree in sports medicine
Languages
Flemish, French, English, Spanish and German.
Career
Orthopedic surgeon
Sports career
Yachting: Competitor in the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Olympics, Winner of the yachting World Cadet Trophy. Rugby: Player of the Belgian national team.
Sports administration
President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) 1989-2001; President of the NOC 1989-1992
IOC
Member of the executive board since 1998; Elected IOC president in 2001
IOC info
Affiliates: 203 countries
Disciplines:
35 sports, 400 events
WORLD sports governing bodies like the International Olympic Committee have for long been synonymous with opulence.
Five star hotels, first class travel and expensive gifts come to mind at the mention of the lifestyle of those who are in charge of the world’s most powerful sports body.
Jacques Rogge, the current IOC boss, who arrives in Uganda today on a two-day visit, is however not into such lavishness.
Described as a mild-mannered hands-on administrator, the Belgian is from that generation that strongly believes that it’s the athlete and not the officials who should enjoy the splendour.
At the 2002 Winter Olympics in salt Lake City, Rogge became the first IOC President to stay in the Athletes’ village, instead of the lavish hotels that most IOC members prefer.
This humility should play to Uganda’s favour. Various local sports stakeholders led by the minister will during his stay get the IOC boss’ attention.
But underneath Rogge’s modesty is an iron that has had him acting decisively on key issues since his election in 2001.
He is uncompromising on doping to the chagrin of several powers who had assumed that their influence inside IOC would prevent their offending athletes from punishments.
As a result, the Olympic games under Rogge’s presidency have been hailed by critics as a new era in the Olympic movement. The message was clear – IOC would not tolerate corruption.
But perhaps what Uganda should bank on for fruitful results from their meetings with the IOC boss, is the special attention he has for the developing world.
Rogge wants to see Africa advance. While making his first trip to Africa in 2005, he urged African nations to bid for the 2016 Olympics.
He expressed his hope for the games to go “as soon as possible†to Africa for the first time.
Hosting the games in Africa would help improve conditions in a continent that is battling against poverty and lack of key infrastructure.
“The games are more than just a sporting event, they are also an occasion for a city to upgrade itself,†Rogge was quoted in China’s People’s Daily.
Rogge’s strong feelings for sport certainly have a lot to do with his 10 years as a top flight athlete.
His involvement with the Olympics stretches back to 1968 at the Mexico games where he represented Belgium in yachting.
He was back at the next games in Munich and Montreal. His best moment came when he became world champion.
Rogge also showed his prowess in rugby where he earned 10 caps for the Belgian national side.
The 64-year-old Orthopedic surgeon moved to the administrative ranks of the Olympics in 1989 when he became president of European Olympic Committee.
It was however not until 2000 that Rogge hit global headlines as an administrator. At the Sydney games where he was chief coordinator he helped mastermind what former IOC boss Juan Antonio Samaranch described as “the best games everâ€.
Unlike other IOC members, Rogge has not courted controversy. He emerged with no dark spot following the Salt Lake City scandal that saw 10 members resign.
That Rogge is giving Uganda audience, is a big boost to a country that has for two decades been struggling in sports.
His presence is therefore a golden opportunity for local stakeholders to lobby for financial and technical assistance.
But whether the country can optimally utilise Rogge’s presence is another issue. Uganda’s 20 sports federations that are affiliated to Uganda Olympic Committee will have two hours to present their case.
That sounds too brief.