The FEI joins the entire sporting world in mourning the passing of Count Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee from 2001-2013. The Belgian, who was 79, was made IOC Honorary President when he stepped down after serving a full 12-year term.
Born in Ghent, Belgium, on 2 May 1942, Jacques Jean Marie Rogge took the medical path in his education, earning a degree in sports medicine and becoming a respected orthopaedic surgeon. But it was the sport’s world that became his metier, both as an athlete and a sports administrator at the very highest level.
An avid sailor, he was crowned world champion in the Cadet Dinghy before moving into the Finn class, which earned him three Olympic appearances at the Mexico 1968, Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976 Games. He played rugby for Belgium and was Belgian national champion no fewer than 16 times.