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Rogge to Maintain IOC Unity: Chinese IOC Executive Member
The greatest challenge to newly elected International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge is to maintain the unity of the international Olympic Movement, said Chinese IOC Executive Board member He Zhenliang on Monday.
Rogge, who arrived in Beijing Monday morning for a two-day visit to Beijing, is scheduled to hold talks with Beijing Mayor Liu Qi and Chinese Olympic Committee president Yuan Weimin on the city's preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games.
"Juan Antonio Samaranch spent more than 20 years to maintain the unity of the international Olympic Movement," said He, also honorary president of the Chinese Olympic Committee.
"Thus I think the greatest challenge to Rogge after his election is to maintain the unity of IOC itself and enhance the relationship between IOC and international sports federations as well as Olympic committees of various countries and regions."
Rogge, 59, was elected to replace Samaranch, who had been IOC president for 21 years before retirement at the 112th IOC Session on July 16, three days after Beijing was awarded the 2008 Olympic Games.
"Only with the unity of IOC and the international Olympic Movement, should the four Olympic Games in his first term as IOC president be successful," He added.
The Belgian surgeon's term is from 2001 to 2009, between which 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, 2006 Torino Winter Olympics and 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics will be held.
Rogge will also visit competition venues and the Main Press Center of the ongoing 21st University Games on his first visit to a world multi-sports games as IOC president.
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