The Olympic family announced with regret that the former president of the IOC, Count Jacques Rogge, had died at the age of 79. Rogge was the eighth president of the IOC, from 2001 to 2013, after which he became honorary president.

A lifelong sports fan and successful athlete, Rogge was a Belgian rugby champion and represented his country in the national team. He was a sixteen-time Belgian national champion and world champion in sailing. He also competed in three editions of 1968, 1972, and 1976 Sailing Olympic Games in the Finn class. After a career as an athlete, he became president of the Belgian Olympic Committee and the EOC and was elected president of the IOC in 2001. After chairing the IOC, he was also the Special Envoy for Youth, Refugees, and Sports at the United Nations. We extend our sincere condolences to family, friends, and the Olympic Movement.