IPC pay tribute following passing of former IOC President Rogge

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC), led by its President Andrew Parsons, has paid tribute to the former IOC President Count Jacques Rogge following his passing aged 79 years.

Rogge, the eighth IOC President, was a Paralympic Order recipient, having received the Paralympic Movement’s highest honour in February 2017.

Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: “Jacques was always a passionate supporter of the Paralympic Movement and the Paralympic Games and will be sorely missed by all those who knew him.  Our thoughts are very much with his wife Anne and family at this time.

“It was under Jacques’s leadership that London 2012, arguably the greatest Olympic and Paralympic Games, took place.  During his time as IOC President, he signed several agreements that not only offered the IPC stability but enabled our organisation to grow and flourish.  We will forever be thankful for his assistance as the IPC would not be the organisation it is today without his support.

“In 2017, we recognised his services to the Paralympic Movement with our highest honour the Paralympic Order.  Today in Tokyo we will recognise his passing by flying the Paralympic flag at half-mast at competition venues.”

Jacques was married to Anne, and leaves a son, a daughter and two grandchildren.

Rogge was an orthopaedic surgeon with a degree in sports medicine.

A life-long sports fan and an accomplished athlete, Rogge was a Belgian rugby champion and represented his country on the national team. He was a 16-time Belgian national champion and a world champion in sailing. He also competed in sailing at three editions of the Olympic Games, in 1968, 1972 and 1976, in the Finn class.

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 also served as a Special Envoy for Youth, Refugees and Sport to the United Nations.