IOC President Rogge receives royal Dutch honor

THE HAGUE - IOC President Jacques Rogge received a Royal Dutch order on Monday during the 8th edition of the IOC World Conference on Sport, Education and Culture in Amsterdam.

Because of his merits for sports, Rogge was appointed Commander of the Order of Oranje-Nassau. Edith Schippers, the Dutch Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport, handed him the honor.

The 70-year-old Rogge is President of the Olympic movement since 2001. Next year he will quit, because the maximum period for an IOC president is twelve years.

"In this position you have been of great importance for global sport and you still are," Minister Schippers said. "You always fought against doping and match-fixing, and for the integrity of the sport, the great champions and the inspiration that sport can give to our youth."

In his acceptance speech Rogge dedicated the royal honor to "all the people who make sports possible for the youth day in and day out". At the congress, representatives of numerous organizations discussed the role of youth and education and the importance of sports as a tool for social and economic development.

The conference lasts from November 25 until No. 27. During his opening speech on Sunday, Rogge explained the mission of this conference.

"This 8th World Conference on Sport, Culture and Education is a great chance to share ideas on how to tap the full potential of the power of sport to be a force for good," he said. "We will explore new ways to engage young people in a rapidly changing world. We will reassert the educational and cultural power of sport."