The Paper's reporter Pu Yaolei
Logue laughed during the Beijing Olympics.
From athlete to official to IOC president, Jacques Logue's life was spectacular.
During Logue's presidency of the International Olympic Committee, he forged deep friendships with many Chinese friends. The 2008 Beijing Olympics were held during Logue's tenure, and Logue repeatedly mentioned the success of the event. For the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, he also sent good wishes many times.
Logue once said: "I will always be grateful to my friends in China." "His death has also plunged the entire sports world into grief.
Logue made a great contribution to the development of the Olympic Games.
Almighty life
In the early morning of August 30, Beijing time, the IOC officially issued an announcement: jacques Logue, the former president of the International Olympic Committee, died at the age of 79.
The IOC revealed that the Olympic Building, the Olympic Museum and all IOC institutions will lower the flag to half-mast for five days as a tribute to Logue.
From 2001 to 2013, as President of the International Olympic Committee, Logue made many contributions to the international Olympic Movement and was respected and recognized by the whole world.
But this period of office is only one part of his entire sports life.
In his youth, Logue was a very "all-rounder" athlete. He has been a long-time footballer and was a Belgian football player, and he was also very distinguished in sailing, participating in three Olympic Games in 1968, 1972 and 1976.
His life was not only sports, outside of his career as an athlete, he earned a doctorate in medicine and became a plastic surgeon, serving as head of the hospital's plastic surgery department. At the same time, he is also proficient in 6 languages, which can be described as an all-rounder.
Coupled with the experience of serving as an official of sports organizations and even the president of the International Olympic Committee, Logue's life can be said to be without a little waste, leaving a strong enough mark.
Logue praised the Beijing Olympics.
Unforgettable Beijing
In the position of President of the International Olympic Committee, Logue's contribution is obvious to all. In addition to inheriting the mantle of his predecessor Samaranch and continuing to develop the international Olympic movement, his advocacy of "slimming down" in the Olympic Games, the fight against corruption, and the vigorous promotion of hosting the Youth Olympic Games have left a deep impression on the world.
During his tenure, he experienced three Summer Olympic Games in 2004, 2008 and 2012, especially the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, which left a deep impression on Logue.
In fact, in the preparation process of the entire Beijing Olympic Games, Logue has always had a high degree of confidence in Beijing, and after witnessing the grandeur of the Beijing Olympic Games, he did not hesitate to give the highest evaluation.
"A truly unparalleled Olympics." This is his evaluation of the grand event at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, "Through this Olympic Games, the world has better understood China, and China has also better understood the world." ”
After the beijing olympic games, he also repeatedly revealed his reluctance to the Beijing Olympic Games.
During the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Logue mentioned the Olympic Village in an interview: "In my experience, I can say that the best Olympic Village in the history of the Summer Olympic Games, without a doubt, belongs to the Beijing Olympic Games. ”
As London 2012 approached, he once again mentioned the high standards that the success of the Beijing Olympics brought about.
"In my experience, it is not common to see any country that can put so much energy into the Olympic Games, and it is difficult for any country to pay more for the Olympic Games than China, which is the reason why the Beijing Olympic Games are unparalleled."
Logue and current IOC President Bach (left).
Kanji seals
The fate between Logue and China is not just the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
As early as 1987, Logue visited China for the first time. Later, he also attended many occasions such as the Guangzhou Asian Games, the Shanghai Swimming World Championships and the Domestic National Games, and also visited China many times for the hosting of the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing.
In addition, Logue has also visited Xi'an, Jinan, Wuxi and other Chinese cities, and has formed a deep friendship with China. Years later, he lamented, the changes that have taken place in China over time have been "earth-shaking," but "what has not changed is the hospitality of the people." ”
Logue's understanding of China is indeed not limited to sports, but willing to explore more Chinese culture, and later in an interview, Logue was like a family treasure:
"China is too vast. Beijing has the Summer Palace, the Forbidden City, Shanghai has Pudong, and the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an also left a deep impression on me. I've also been to Nanjing, which is a very beautiful city, and Guangzhou is also very charming. Chinese culture is too rich and colorful. ”
Feelings for China are also reflected in the details. In 2003, at the meeting to confirm the emblem of the Beijing Olympic Games, Logue gave the participants a surprise - when he signed the design of the emblem, he took out his specially prepared Chinese character seal to stamp it.
During Beijing's bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, Logue also sent his blessings and support, and mentioned Beijing's successful experience.
"The 2008 Beijing Olympics was a great Olympics, well organized and a good demonstration of the Olympic spirit, and I will always be grateful to my friends in China."
He once said that if Beijing gets the right to host, the Winter Olympics will be very successful, and this Winter Olympics will also help China become a world sports power.
Now that the Beijing Winter Olympics are just around the corner, it's just a pity that Logue can't see this grand event with his own eyes...
The Scythians are gone, but may it be safe.
Editor-in-Charge: Ascendas