[Explanation] A few days ago, the International Olympic Committee announced that the former chairman Jacques Rogge had passed away at the age of 79.
From 2001 to 2013, during the twelve years when Rogge was the chairman of the International Olympic Committee, he came to China many times and had an indissoluble relationship with China.
In July 2001, Rogge was elected President of the International Olympic Committee.
He was awarded the gold medal for athletes for the first time since he became the chairman of the International Olympic Committee, which was awarded to Chinese athletes.
Recently, Sun Baoli, a professor and doctoral supervisor of Beijing Sport University, and chief scientist of the Winter Olympics Cultural Research Center, said in an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Agency that Rogge’s many actions during his tenure fully demonstrated his deep affection for the Chinese people.
[Concurrent] Sun Baoli, professor and doctoral supervisor of Beijing Sport University, chief scientist of the Winter Olympics Cultural Research Center
The first Olympic gold medal awarded after serving as the President of the International Olympic Committee was the one awarded to Chinese shooting athlete Du Li at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
In fact, this is also saturated with Chairman Rogge's deep affection for the Chinese people.
[Explanation] Rogge has participated in the three National Games of China in 2001, 2005 and 2009, which brought China's sports industry to the attention of the world.
And because Beijing hosted the 2008 Olympic Games, Rogge has forged a deep friendship with China.
[Concurrent] Sun Baoli, professor and doctoral supervisor of Beijing Sport University, chief scientist of the Winter Olympics Cultural Research Center
For Chinese people, the most familiar thing is actually Mr. Rogge's participation in the opening and closing ceremonies and other important events of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
In fact, as early as when China was preparing for the 2008 Olympic Games, Mr. Rogge had come to Beijing (inspection) and instructed many times, and participated in some particularly important nodal ceremonies.
He pointed out that through the 2008 Olympic Games, the world has a deeper understanding of China, and China has a deeper understanding of the world.
[Explanation] Rogge's major contribution to the international Olympic cause is "anti-doping".
During his tenure, he decided to double the number of doping tests during the Olympics, at the same time strengthen pre-match and out-of-competition testing, and store doping samples for future testing.
In Sun Baoli's view, Rogge's vigorous advancement of anti-doping work during his tenure stems from his past athlete experience.
Rogge was an excellent sailing athlete when he was young, and he knew the importance of clean competition and fair competition for athletes.
[Concurrent] Sun Baoli, professor and doctoral supervisor of Beijing Sport University, chief scientist of the Winter Olympics Cultural Research Center
He once mentioned that if our parents do not (let) children participate in sports because (athletes) take doping, this is truly the degeneration of sports and the sadness of sports.
He believes that he himself has a strong responsibility to keep sports pure and fair.
Therefore, Rogge has taken a series of measures, such as unprecedented severe measures, to fight doping, which also shows to the world sports are the determination of the International Olympic Committee to promote fair competition and resolutely oppose doping.
[Explanation] In order to better attract young people, Rogge founded the Youth Olympic Games solely for young athletes aged 15-18, combining sports with education and cultural experience.
[Concurrent] Sun Baoli, professor and doctoral supervisor of Beijing Sport University, chief scientist of the Winter Olympics Cultural Research Center
First of all, Rogge emphasized the important value of promoting the Olympic spirit among young people. Therefore, under Rogge's active advocacy, the International Olympic Committee created a large-scale event such as the Youth Olympic Games.
In fact, Rogge’s main purpose is to bring the Olympic ideal back to life through the hosting of the Youth Olympic Games. It actually undertakes to educate young people to develop a coordinated physical and mental development, and then to build a better world.
[Commentary] Sun Baoli introduced that Rogge has also been paying close attention to Beijing's preparations for the 2022 Winter Olympics.
In 2019, Rogge sent his blessings to the preparations for the Beijing Winter Olympics. He also believes that the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will definitely be a high-level Olympics.
Reporter Xu Pengpeng reports from Beijing
Editor in charge: [Lu Yan]