Doctor Honoris Causa
of the Józef Piłsudski Academy
of Physical Education in Warsaw
2004

Doctor Jacques Rogge

Doctor Jacques Rogge was born on May 2nd 1942 in Ghent (Gandawa) in Belgium. Educated in medicine and specialised in the field of orthopaedics and traumatology, as well as in sport medicine. He had been running a private medical practice for many years before he suspended it in 2001 after taking over the function of the 8th President of the International Olympic Committee. Jacques Rogge comes from a Flemish family of rich sport traditions. The Candidate himself competed in sailing – winning many times the championship of Belgium and gaining the title of the world champion in the class of Finn. He represented Belgium 3 times in this discipline at Olympic games. Rugby is the second sport discipline in which he achieved the title of a champion together with his national team. Joining the experience in sport practice with his medical expertise, he devotes much of his time working in several commissions, agendas, working groups connected with medical care of the Olympians. Among others he is active in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), in Medical Commissions of the Olympic Movement, Olympic Solidarity, Olympic Programme and the Assessment of the Olympic Preparations of the International Olympic Committee. He has contributed significantly to the establishment of medical and anti-doping services, which are functioning now in the Olympic sport. The candidate has a fluent command of 5 languages: Flemish, French, English, Spanish and German. Appointing him for the position of the President of the International Olympic Committee is a mark of distinction shown by the international circles, as well as an expression of professional competence of Dr J. Rogge; of his abilities to head teams, of his negotiating skills, erudition and mega-cultural perception of problems connected with sport and the Olympic ideas. By devoting himself entirely to the Olympic movement, Dr J. Rogge uses his personal sport experience, and with his entire strength opposes threats, which are present in the world sport, and in particular fights: doping, corruption and brutality at the stadiums. He appreciates fully the idea of educating young generations through sport deprived of any forms of discrimination He is faithful to Fair Play principles and is the advocate of the thesis claiming that sport movement should be independent of political influences. The Candidate is of an opinion that one should drive at the humanisation of sport competition, of the respect of the opponent and regard for regulations. Dr J. Rogge, by serving these ideals, stresses the role of sport in the process of the European integration. In his opinion Europe plays an essential role in the aspect of sport, organisation and culture of the Olympic movement. By managing the works of the International Olympic Committee he declares support for the activities in the realm of Olympism, in all EU countries and countries joining the EU. In 2002 Dr J. Rogge assumed the honorary patronage of the VI Scientific Congress Contemporary Olympic Sport and Sport for Everybody” organised at our Academy . His person significantly raised the rank of the Congress. On several occasions at the Olympic Games he met with Polish athletes and people actively engaged in sport. He discussed the situation in the European Olympic movement with the senior personalities of the Polish Olympic Committee. He supports approvingly all the sailing achievements of our student Mateusz Kusznierewicz.