IOC President Jacques Rogge "is leaving with the Olympic body in much sturdier shape but facing serious challenges," according to the AP. The 71-year-old Belgian steps down as president next Tuesday after steering the IOC "through a period of relative stability that spanned three Summer Olympics and three Winter Games." Rogge "is completing his term with a reputation for bringing a calm, steady hand to the often turbulent world of Olympic politics." He "took a hard line against doping and ethics violations, created the Youth Olympics, oversaw a growth in IOC finances during a time of global economic crisis and made peace with the U.S. Olympic Committee." IOC members meeting in Buenos Aires over the next week "will elect Rogge's successor among six candidates by secret ballot Sept. 10." The new president will face tough issues, "including the backlash over anti-gay legislation in Russia before February's Winter Games in Sochi and concern over construction delays in Rio" (AP, 9/3).
LASTING LEGACY: The AFP reported "his brainchild the Youth Olympic Games has been created, rugby and golf have been voted back into the games (for 2016) and women's boxing was one of the standout successes at what was also considered one of the best games of all time in London." Rogge: "The Olympic Games under my presidency has been very well organized, the Youth Olympic Games 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" (AFP, 9/3).
