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| Friday, July 20 |
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| Rogge takes over as IOC president Associated Press | |||
LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- With Juan Antonio Samaranch still
hospitalized, newly elected Jacques Rogge on Friday officially took
over as president of the International Olympic Committee.
Standing in for Samaranch, recovering from severe fatigue, first
IOC vice president Keba Mbaye handed Rogge the keys to Chateau de
Vidy, the IOC's marble headquarters on the shores of Lake Geneva.
"It is painful circumstances that have brought me to present
you the keys of the Olympic house," Mbaye said. "It is because
our honorary life president Juan Antonio Samaranch is ill that I've
been charged to hand you the keys that open Vidy and the Olympic
movement to you.
"It is ... a symbol of the ship's wheel that you will now be
guiding. It will be a difficult task as the ship has become
overloaded, capricious and the ocean is tempestuous. But I know you
are a good captain."
A smiling Rogge accepted the golden key before presenting
Samaranch's son, Juan Antonio Jr., and daughter, Maria Teresa, with
their own.
"At this moment, as I officially take the keys, my first words
are for the one who should have taken a prominent part in the
ceremony," Rogge said in front of 200 guests and journalists
attending the ceremony at the Olympic museum. "Unfortunately, he
could not be with us but he insisted himself the ceremony go on.
"Be reassured I understand the gravity of this moment and its
symbolic importance. By handing me these keys you are entrusting me
with the leadership of the International Olympic Committee and it
is with great enthusiasm that I start my office as president of the
IOC."
Rogge, a 59-year-old Belgian surgeon, was elected Monday in
Moscow as the eighth president in the 107-year history of the IOC.
Samaranch, who had led the IOC for 21 years, collapsed early
Wednesday during a radio interview with a Spanish station after his
return flight from Moscow. The IOC said he was in stable condition
and continuing to improve.
"Yesterday I visited the president at his hospital sickbed and
asked him what he would like me to say at this ceremony," Mbaye
recounted. "He answered: 'Nothing. Nothing.' Then he added, 'You
know, the day before yesterday I almost died, but after our session
in Moscow, after what we accomplished there, if I had died it would
almost be in happiness.'
"Stay with us Juan Antonio," pleaded Mbaye. "We still need
you, need your advice and council."
Samaranch had a grueling schedule in Moscow, where the host city
for the 2008 Summer Games was chosen and the new IOC president was
elected.
Meetings started at 9 a.m. daily with receptions or dinners in
his honor most evenings. It was also hot and humid in the Russian
capital, and many of the venues had no air conditioning.
At times during the Moscow session Samaranch looked shaky and
tired. After Beijing was awarded the 2008 Games on Friday, he had
to be reminded to sign the host games contract before ending the
meeting.
But until the end Samaranch retained absolute control of the
movement, snuffing out pleas from at least one IOC member for him
to withdraw the nomination of his son as a member.
IOC director-general Francois Carrard told The Associated Press
that Samaranch was now out of intensive care but needed to stay in
hospital for a few more days' rest.
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ALSO SEE Hospitalized Samaranch in stable condition Kim alleges smear campaign cost him IOC presidency Rogge elected IOC boss in a landslide | |
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