Jacques Rogge, who spent 12 years as president of the International Olympic Committee, has died at the age of 79, the organisation announced yesterday.

“It is with great sadness that the International Olympic Committee announces the passing of former IOC President Count Jacques Rogge. He was 79 years old,” said an IOC statement. Rogge was the eighth president of the IOC, from 2001 to 2013, after which he was succeeded by Thomas Bach.

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Rogge was an orthopaedic surgeon with a degree in sports medicine. He also played rugby at international level, winning 16 caps for Belgium and became a world champion sailor. It was on the water that he took part in three Olympics in 1968, 1972 and 1976.

After his career as an athlete he became president of the Belgian and European Olympic Committees, and was elected president of the IOC in 2001.After his IOC presidency, he served as a Special Envoy for Youth, Refugees and Sport to the United Nations. He was married to Anne and he leaves behind a son, a daughter and two grandchildren.