The Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) has expressed its sadness upon receiving the news of the passing of former International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge on Sunday at the age of 79.
Late Rogge was the second IOC President to visit PNG in 2009 and his 12-year tenure as head of the IOC also saw the transformation of a modern-run IOC and re-ignited and inspired the noble vision preserved in the Olympic Movement of Move, Learn and Discover, especially in youth sports.
Rogge was elected the IOC’s eighth president in Moscow on July 16, 2001, to succeed Juan Antonio Samaranch, a former ambassador who was head of the IOC for a period of 21 years and visited PNG in 1983.
President Sir John Dawanincura expressed his sincere condolences to the family of Late Jacques Rogge on his passing on behalf of the people of Papua New Guinea saying, “It is with great sadness that we hear of the passing of one of the great architects of the modern movement of sports today”.
“As we share the sympathies from across the globe, our thoughts and prayers are with the family on the loss of their loved one. We also remember former President Rogge’s many accomplishments’ in sports as an athlete, as well as an administrator in the highest hierarchy of the Olympic movement. He was the second IOC President to visit PNG in 2009 and we will remember him in the many legacies he inspired and championed in the world, including the Youth Olympics, which PNG has participated in since the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010 in Singapore.”
PNGOC Secretary General and IOC Member, Auvita Rapilla also expressed her deepest sympathies adding that it is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of one of the Olympic greats and stand in solidarity with the other 205 National Olympic Committees and IOC Member colleagues. We are inspired by his passion and devotion to the Olympic Movement and values.