During a visit to Egypt, IOC President Jacques Rogge talked about the possibility of the Games coming to the continent. Inas Mazhar reports The International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge was in Egypt to attend the centennial celebrations of the country's National Olympic Committee (NOC). Before giving the floor to questions at a press conference, the 68-year-old Rogge said he had had an interesting discussion the night before with Egypt's Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif and NOC President Mahmoud Ali at a gala dinner. "In the past two days, it was a good chance to meet with Egypt's top officials, especially the prime minister and of course to meet and honour the past Olympic champions and the former NOC presidents as well, Rogge told reporters. Rogge expressed his admiration over the input and support of the National Olympic Committees of the Middle East and Arab countries. "Many medals have been won by Arab athletes in many Olympic events and editions. These NOCs have also been great hosts and organisers of some major sports events. If I may remind you, the Pan Arab Games were held here in Egypt in 2007 and in the same year, Algeria hosted the All Africa Games. We are happy with the development of these sports in these NOCs." The Belgian assured the media that the IOC does not impose pressure on governments. "The IOC doesn't apply any kind of pressure. We work with persuasion and most times we find good solutions together. Applying pressure is not the style of the Olympic Committee. We are not a political body or a sovereign body." Though Africa is the only continent which has not hosted or even bid to host the Olympic Games, the world's major sports event, Rogge believes it could have a chance one day. "I think definitely there is a possibility to see the Olympic Games coming to Africa in the future. Africa is the only continent where we have not yet had an Olympic Games but I think that this could be decided in the future. However, I have to say very clearly that we haven' received any candidature for that yet and before we take the decision there must be a candidature and this candidature should have the necessary qualities to be selected. "As far as Egypt is concerned, I suppose you heard a declaration by the prime minister that Egypt is thinking in the future of hosting the Olympic Games but they are also studying the different needs that have to be fulfilled and only then can they consider eventually making a bid." There was interest whether Rogge' visit to Egypt could possibly influence Egypt's bid to host the 2017 Mediterranean Games, a decision which will be announced next year. "As I said, the visit was a very good one. Whether this will have an influence on the future of Egypt's bid to host the Mediterranean Games, let me say that it is not an issue of the IOC but is dealt with by the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games." Rogge, who has been in office for nine years, announced that the IOC was working closely with developing NOC countries just like FIFA, the world's governing body in football. "The IOC has a support scheme just as FIFA has one with Goal. It's called 'Olympic Solidarity'. Money is given by the IOC to the NOCs of developing countries and it is the same amount given by FIFA and distributed in the same way. Our system has been in place for 25 years and is working extremely well. "We have also started with some projects. Last May, we opened an Olympic training centre in Zambia to serve East Africa and it is working extremely well. The second will be in Haiti because it had many problems lately especially with earthquakes. Then we go to another continent, and so on. One day, we can come back to Africa but we have other places and continents that need our help more, like in Asia and Latin America." The issue of Muslim sportswomen outfits is a problem for most Islamic countries, sometimes preventing these athletes from taking part in international championships. However, Rogge revealed that the IOC had nothing to do with the dress code issue. "The IOC has no responsibility in determining the clothing of athletes. It is the sole responsibility of the international federations and they make their own regulations according to security measures and not according to religious or ethnic values. Let me give you an example, an incident that involved the Iranian team clothing of the football squad at the Youth Games in Singapore earlier this year. FIFA objected and we had to find a solution. But it was only a matter of security, nothing else." Despite the fact that the IOC does not recognise regional bodies such as Arab sports federations and the Commonwealth Games and as such, does not recognise their tournaments, Rogge said the IOC does collaborate with both associations. "And we do have very good contacts with them. I personally attend the opening of their Games." Soon after the BBC aired its 'Panorama' TV show which levelled accusations at several FIFA members for financial irregularities, the IOC voiced concern since one of the accused is Eissa Hayatou, president of the African Football Federation and an IOC member. The IOC said it will investigate the matter. In Cairo, Rogge would not comment. "There is an inquiry going on now regarding the declarations of the BBC. The case is in the hands of the ethics committee and as long as there is an inquiry I will not make any declarations." When asked whether the IOC would follow in the footsteps of FIFA in announcing the Olympic Games host nations earlier than usual, Rogge said he wouldn't. "We think that seven years are enough to organise a very good Games and that extending this period to 10 or 12 years would be too long. If we go to a period of 10 or 12 years we'll face problems because the agreement which we have with the government of a host nation at the beginning of the preparations might have consequences or lead to problems if the government changes. Twelve years is a lifetime." Since the late nineties, the IOC has recommended that 15 per cent of those on sports federation boards be women. Egypt was one of the few countries that brought the recommendation into effect. Almost every federation in Egypt has at least one woman while many countries have none. "We are working at the level of the NOCs which have not yet reached the minimum number of women on Olympic boards. We are making good progress and I would like to congratulate you for having been an example to the rest of the world. Egypt is a shining example. Unfortunately, we can't take sanctions against those who haven't carried this out because as I said before we don't pressure governments but persuade the people." Doping in sports has always been a critical issue and Rogge said that there were strict regulations and penalties imposed "which do not differentiate between rich and poor countries. "We are fighting doping and we announce that our tolerance is zero towards those who go against the rules." Rogge cited a programme launched which has been working well for retired athletes. "Their situation is primarily the responsibility of the nations of these athletes. We believe that the NOC and the government have to support them and if necessary their federations but it is not possible or available in every country. Therefore, the IOC has created a project, or let's say an organisation called 'Athletes Career Programme' where we contact these athletes during their careers and give them advice on how to foresee their future and how they can acquire skills and find a job later after their retirement. We have been able to help 8,500 athletes find a job after their sports career and the programme is doing very well." Born on 2 May 1942 in Ghent, Belgium, Rogge is married and has two children. By profession, he is an orthopaedic surgeon. In the course of his sports career, he competed in the yachting competitions at the Games of the Olympiad in Mexico in 1968, Munich in 1972 and Montreal in 1976. He was also a member of the Belgian national rugby team. Rogge served as president of the Belgian National Olympic Committee from 1989 to 1992. He became president of the European Olympic Committees in 1989, an IOC member in 1991 and executive board member in 1998. Rogge is the eighth IOC president, elected on 16 July 2001 at the 112th IOC session in Moscow.
