Jacques Rogge Quotations

We are preparing for the joint team, which is going much further than just two teams parading together.

This successful transition... was key to the Sydney, Salt Lake City (Winter Olympics) and Athens Games. We know our Chinese friends will succeed in this transition too.

We remain with our zero tolerance policy, so that the fight against doping remains the very first priority of the International Olympic Committee.

Unless something unforeseen happens, they are going to make it if they keep up this pace.

We feel confident that a working solution will be found. There is no question about the IOC somehow taking a soft stance on doping.

We express the hope that the governments who have promised to adopt the code by the first day of the Olympic Games will accelerate their efforts.

We have no doubt that BOCOG will deliver in a splendid way.

There are environment problems. But our Chinese friends are doing everything to prevent that and to find solutions.

There is a lot of goodwill in both countries, but I remain prudent because so much can depend on international political events. We still have some 18 months to come to an agreement. Let's wait and see.

There is no doubt that after the great success you have achieved in Athens last year during the Olympic Games, and with the preparations that you have now for the National Games, I would not be surprised if China would lead the medal count in 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Madrid had a very good bid and was only two votes short of reaching the final round of voting.

Security worked extremely well, the athletes are happy. They were definitely games that pleased the athletes. The competitions were at a very high level.

show us that sport unites by overriding national, political, religious and language barriers.

I would really love to have a (U.S.) bid. There is a great tradition of games in the U.S. The States has organized by far the most Winter and Summer Games.

If they have the same conclusion, no problem. But if they differ it would be good to go to the independent observers.

I am confident a solution can be found which will, on the one hand, respect the legislation and, on the other, ensure the Games are workable.

China is so lucky to have so many beautiful animals to represent the Olympic spirit.

I have asked that an independent inquiry be started to pinpoint the different responsibilities,

From our perspective they (Sydney) have acted according to the rules.

If any sport wants to come in, one will have to go. But no sport will be excluded before 2012.

For the thousands of athletes who compete cleanly and fairly, we have a duty to put in place the strongest measures to trap the small minority who cheat.

We support that (tests). The reason for the tests is to protect the health of the athletes. These are health tests, they are not doping tests.

We are fully confident about China's capacity in holding grand sports events, and believe Beijing Olympic will achieve great success. And we are also convinced that the Chinese is capable in holding large-scale international event,

To find somebody guilty of doping you don't necessarily need urine and blood samples. It can also be based on circumstantial evidence.

What we have done today is retained five cities which we believe will deliver, but we will have to check if they do deliver,

He is sleeping extremely well and I am sleeping extremely well.

I think the deterrent effect and the message has been sent since Salt Lake City. The athletes know that the noose is tightening. They will probably, I hope so, be more careful and wiser. But you can't guarantee that.

It is clear that the fight against doping is not served by the way in which the debate is currently held.

It is something that we all wish for; to see a joint Korean team participating at the Games, like the situation we had with the united German team several years ago.

I think that it is very top quality. ... I tested my mattress this morning.

It is never easy to prepare the games, but what counts is what is happening from the day of the opening ceremony and not what is happening before. I am definitely not having a negative view of it. The least problems you can have in the preparations the better, but the proof is in the eating.

I think the members must take that element into consideration. It is not just an issue of deciding to include or not to include. This is also reviewing a decision that has been taken six or seven months before.

It is a saga. Not even Hollywood could come up with a scenario like it.

It is a question of sporting ethics rather than a question of crime and criminality.

It is a new development for F1 to be held in China, ... F1 used to be held in the same country. China has 1.3 billion people and we are opening sport to 25 per cent of world's population.

I think there will be a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of passion. Italy will definitely unite around the games, I have no doubt about that.

Overall, it's been what we expected, not really what we had wished. The fact that some sports are not practiced in the country, you have to live with.

Overall, it's been what we expected ? not really what we had wished.

Organizing the Games is never easy. But I am glad the fundamentals are sound.

Sponsorship is really a record in Vancouver and the economy being very hot, that means construction prices are soaring. That means also that profits of the companies are soaring and one might compensate the other.

My room is on block No. 5. I tested my mattress this morning.

My personal advice: lifetime no. It should allow for the rehabilitation of an athlete. This is a common principle of due justice.

I was very pleased with the progress of the work and I'm sure that BOC OG is doing an excellent job,

It is clear there will be no amendments to the law,

I think this is going to be a tremendous Pan American Games. It will leave a great legacy for the city, not only in terms of sport infrastructure but in urban improvements as well.

managing the cost and complexity of the games; putting athletes and sport at the heart of your bid; and on focusing on technical excellence, not on things which are not essential.

Whoever wins, it's going to be a prestigious city. I'm often questioned who might be the winner and I'm always inclined to say the winner is the IOC.

You know how much the IOC believes in the success of the home team.

We are now halfway. This is always a crucial period,

We are in charge, and only we are in charge of the doping controls.

We know of course that ... co-operation will have to be renewed with the federal government because of your elections. As soon as a new government is in place, the links will be made and improved, but definitely I think everything is okay.

Well done and thank you. You have succeeded brilliantly in meeting your challenge. These were truly magnificent Games.

You have succeeded brilliantly in meeting your challenge. These were truly magnificent games. We say a heartfelt thank you to Italy, Piedmont and Turin.

Today we have a WADA code which is widely accepted.

We are pleased by the pace of progress now,

We still have issues about doping. Progress has been made, but not to the level where the Olympic family would accept it.

We are confident. We are vigilant. We support the (organizing) committee and we are happy, ... We have no concerns whatsoever.

We owe it to ourselves and our event to ensure that such activities are contained within the appropriate framework and do not have an adverse impact on our values or undermine the credibility of the competition.

We are working on that, and definitely intelligent solutions with the full respect of the law will be found.

We would need to have guarantees in terms of immigration, of all athletes and all countries, to avoid this issue that we have with Cuba. These are things we need to have.

TOROC is making every effort to find a solution, ... We feel confident that a working solution will be found. There is no question about the IOC somehow taking a soft stance on doping.

We are speaking of a sporting session in 2009 and it will not have an impact. If Copenhagen wins it will be from membership that is absolutely universal from 70 countries.

(Turin organizers) are making every effort to find a solution. We are confident a working solution will be found.

(Turin organizers) are making every effort to find a solution, ... We are confident a working solution will be found.

You are promoting the Olympic ideals and values in your own countries and worldwide. We fully expect you to do this in the Olympic spirit, following the bidding rules set down to ensure a fair process, playing fair and by the rules.

We cannot support what he is saying. An athlete must be a role model. If Bode Miller is at his peak, if Bode Miller refrains from making those comments, people will think of his performance and he can be a big star. He's a young man. You can understand it, but you cannot excuse it.

We cannot, of course, support what he is saying. An athlete must be a role model. It's about the responsibilities you have as an athlete.

We have to fight doping with all we have.

We will work with them at the Olympic Games at Beijing and see if there's a chance to come back. I understand the disappointment of those who pleaded for the reinstatement.

We indeed had suspicions of fraud, but we never had any proof. We carried out inquiries several times, but each time we ran into a wall of silence.

We are assured the Top VII (sponsors program) will also be a great success.

We are very pleased with the preparations. Like any Games, the final stretch of days is the most difficult one.

We are still in the preliminary phases of the general outlook of the torch relay but the route is not yet defined. The practical circumstances of the torch relay and the whole format is still under discussion.

We had problems in Athens where people didn't know anything about softball or baseball or fencing. But I don't worry about Vancouver at all.

We do not rule out any action or sanction but we need to know more facts before we do that. The information that we have (so far) received is too much to be ignored.

Even if there is a negative test, that is only part of the equation. We have evidence of Italian police which we should receive shortly. If you want to prove the guilt of athletes, there are various methods of proof.

The results that you achieved at the Athens Olympics last year have shown Chinese sports is really getting to the top.

These were truly magnificent games. We say a heart-felt thank you to Italy, Piedmont and Italy.

These were Games of heart, warmth and empathy and smiles. I must say the venues were perhaps the most remarkable in Winter Games history.

the start, but probably not the end of the big cleanup operation.

The Olympic Truce will not be eternal. After the games, bad habits will return. But this village is a perfect example of what the truce exemplifies. Here, athletes of different religions, political systems, races and languages live peacefully together.

After each Games we will review the sports,

Dear Organizing Committee, friends and partners, you have succeeded brilliantly in meeting your challenge. These were truly magnificent Games. We say a heartfelt thank you to Italy, Piedmont and Turin.

Denis Oswald is the ideal person to lead the IOC's partnership with London during the preparations for the 2012 Olympic Games,

Denis brings a unique combination of skills and experience, as a medal-winning, three-time Olympic athlete and a sports leader with nearly 30 years of experience organizing international competitions of the highest level,

As a surgeon, I've been a customer of your company for all my professional life.

Authorities approached me to ask if the IOC wanted to support a unification process. At a sporting level, it will not be so difficult but there has to be a political agreement, too.

Athletes, you are role models and your achievements both on and off the field of play will inspire and motivate the future generations. Please compete in a spirit of fair play, mutual understanding and respect, and above all, please refuse doping.

Athletes, I turn to you now. This is the moment you deserve to enjoy,

This is a sad day. There are cases among them that are just unacceptable, brutal corruption, when simply money was asked for.

This is not something which will be decided overnight. It would need a long consultation process.

This is really in the city itself. It is in the centre of the city.

They gave standing ovations to every single athlete.

There was probably a little bit of lack of enthusiasm in some sports. The general public was a little bit absent in providing atmosphere. There are events where attendance has not been maximum.

According to tradition I proclaim the Games closed and I call on the youth of the world to assemble in four years in Vancouver to celebrate the 21st Winter Games.

It's an international problem, it's not just the NHL. There is a lot of betting where there is an influence on sports results. There have been issues on betting on football (soccer), there have been issues of betting in tennis, there might be issues in other sports.

It's one of those unwritten rules you never want to talk about, but if holding the Games in a city would jeopardize the lives of athletes, there is always that remedy. I don't know that there is another remedy.

The new program of the Canadian Olympic Committee 'Own the Podium,' which is supported on one hand by the government, but on the other hand the corporate world, has yielded already unbelievable results.

Then would still come, of course, the second part. The sports movement would have to convince the governments.

The best athletes are not competing and the major athletes perform in an environment where doping controls are not what we have in the Olympic world.