18 replies to this topic

[Mainad]

A decent guy, courteous and diplomatic. A little aloof perhaps but nothing arrogant, rude or bossy. He always reminds me of a benevolent headmaster, kindly but firm.

I think the IOC has increased in international respect under his leadership. He has by and large avoided the scandals that tarnished the tenures of many of his predecessors. He has lent a quiet dignity and respect to the role.

Will be interesting to see how different things might be under his successor. But at least he will have provided him with a steady ship to take the helm!

[Rols O'Bertilsson]

Mainad, on 12 December 2011 - 05:18 PM, said:

Will be interesting to see how different things might be under his successor.

Yeah, gotta say, I don't have much idea about Bach's style and personality (assuming he gets the job - but from what I've read, he's really the almost inevitable successor). Any ideas from the German members about how he's likely to be?

[Athensfan]

I have not been charmed by Rogge. He is such a political animal that he virtually never speaks candidly -- unless pressuring someone to bid. To outward appearances, his whole presidency has been focused on " being nice." He doesnt seem to care about financial realities. He has the tendency to say that the bid races are all neck and neck and anyone can win -- that is until a winner is announced -- at which point he does a 180 and says the winner was always the best choice and blew away the competition on the basis of merit. I dont trust him or like him.

As for the YOGs, I believe they are ill-conceived and unnecessary. The question isn't whether they'll die, the question is when.

[fox334]

I think he did a rather good job. Especially when you compare to his countrymen over at MaFIFA.

He steadied the ship after Samarach and cleaned the house, so to speak. He essentially addressed the problems of Juan's presidency, which is what the IOC needed.

[Colonel Iredale]

fox334, on 19 December 2011 - 11:56 PM, said:

I think he did a rather good job. Especially when you compare to his countrymen over at MaFIFA.

He steadied the ship after Samarach and cleaned the house, so to speak. He essentially addressed the problems of Juan's presidency, which is what the IOC needed.

Good point, although Rogge is Belgian and Blatter is Swiss, if that is indeed who you refer to...

[Brekkie Boy]

Considering the most comparable figure of his generation is Sebb Blatter he's always going to come out on top, but I think he's been a good boss for the IOC and didn't actually realise he was off after London until I saw his interview with the BBC today. I agree with the earlier comment the Winter games have really found their footing under his leadership - though the seven year lag in hosts being selected and hosting the games means it's difficult to credit them for specific games - only Vancouver and London will have won bids and been hosted under Rogges leadership.

[alphamale86]

I agree with a lot of you on Rogue. He was to me a class act of a president. He did lack some personality but you definitely knew who was the boss. I feel as though it allowed us to focus on the games and not the personalities behind it. As for the Youth Olympics I am on the fence about that. I remember being 13 and writing a letter to the IOC asking them to create a youth Olympics so that young people, like myself at the time, could compete. However after seeing what the games are they are really just a glorified high school meet with not as strong of an impact as I would have liked. Should they be discontinued? well what do young athlete think of it? I am sure it means a lot to them, so it might be worth keeping but tweeking.

Definitely the Winter Games have come a long way under his reign. I watch all the events with equal excitement and I am from a caribbean island originally. The games on the whole just seem a lot more exciting than they were. Thanks jaque

[gotosy]

Quote

Rogge looks to retirement with pride in the past



Jacques Rogge has plenty to do when he retires as President of the International Olympic Committee in just over a year's time -- and he says he will do so proud of the legacy he leaves behind.

The 70-year-old Belgian, at the helm since he was elected to replace Juan Antonio Samaranch in 2001, said there was much to be pleased about as he contemplates life after 12 years as head of sport's most powerful governing body.

His successor will be elected in Buenos Aires in September next year.

"Normally with regards to legacy you only speak about that when people die," he told AFP in an interview this week at IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

"I didn't take the mandate up to leave a legacy and historians can write about that in 20 years time if they so wish. However... I took up the baton of Samaranch and I believe I will leave behind some notable successes.

"The quality of the Olympic Games under my presidency have been very well organised, the Youth Olympic Games (his brainchild) has been a very great success.

"I have fought against doping and illegal betting and I will leave with the financial revenue in a very strong state.

"This (money) is not a good thing necessarily and not the essence of what we are about but without money you cannot cook!"

Rogge, an orthopaedic surgeon by profession, said that his sporting background -- he was an Olympic yachtsman and played rugby for Belgium -- had given him some important lessons in how to address his responsibilities as head of the IOC.

"I am blessed by a very diversified upbringing," said Rogge, who was also a ringside boxing doctor and was once told in no uncertain terms by his wife that she would not do his laundry when he came back from bouts spattered in blood.

"I competed in an individual sport -- sailing -- and the collective sport, with rather less success, of rugby. So, hopefully I took the best out of both the individual and collective sports.

"Definitely one thing you take out of both is that if you are not a superman at sports -- and I was definitely not superman -- then it teaches you humility, because you lose more often than you win."

Rogge retired from sailing aged 34, turning his attention to the political side of sports, joining first his national Olympic committee and then accepting Samaranch's invitation to become an IOC member in 1991.

He said he had enjoyed many aspects of the job.

"A great bonus is to be in contact with different members of society," he explained.

"You meet with the media, you meet with corporate businessmen for sponsorship reasons then there is the TV world and the scientific world for the battle against doping and the health of the athletes.

"But for me to this day the nicest moment is being in the stadia and with the athletes in the athletes' village."

Rogge said his most difficult moment as an athlete came when he decided after great personal turmoil to continue to compete at the 1972 Munich Games after Palestinian terror group Black September killed 11 Israeli coaches and athletes.

He said he has clear plans for what he will do once he steps down.

"Well, it is clear you have much more time before you," he said with a smile.

"I will practise more sport, on the bike or the treadmill with appropriate weight training which does not give me injuries!

"I will continue to do some sailing and while I am a very bad golf player I would still like to persist and play.

"I will read the enormous pile of books (he especially likes ones on philosophy, science and history and cites the French classic 'The Little Prince' by Antoine de Saint-Exupery as his favourite book) and I am a great lover of both modern art and contemporary art, so there are many museums to visit and more time to do it.

"Other than that I will drive my two grandchildren to the sports club!"

AFP
http://sports.yahoo....42514--oly.html

[Athensfan]

Thanks, gotosy. Interesting post.