Jacques Rogge Quotes on Games (22 Quotes)

Dear Organizing Committee, friends and partners, you have succeeded brilliantly in meeting your challenge. These were truly magnificent Games. We say a heartfelt thank you to Italy, Piedmont and Turin.

This successful transition... was key to the Sydney, Salt Lake City (Winter Olympics) and Athens Games. We know our Chinese friends will succeed in this transition too.

The journey of the flame is what brings the Games closer to society and allows society to take part in the Games.

Our world today is in need of peace, tolerance and brotherhood. The values of the Olympic Games can deliver these to us. May the Games be held in peace, in the true spirit of the Olympic Truce. Athletes of the 80 national Olympic committees, show us that sport unites by overcoming national, political, religious and language barriers. You can show us a world we all long for.

I am confident a solution can be found which will, on the one hand, respect the legislation and, on the other, ensure the Games are workable.

I think there will be a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of passion. Italy will definitely unite around the games, I have no doubt about that.

I know the importance of China's National Games, and it is not only for the athletes but for the whole population,

I decided I would never speak about best-ever games. I can say today we are very pleased, but I will not make a ranking or comparison.

I would really love to have a (U.S.) bid. There is a great tradition of games in the U.S. The States has organized by far the most Winter and Summer Games.

I'm looking forward to seeing the National Games, which are always of the high quality. I remember very well of the opening ceremony in Guangzhou four years ago and I expect something that is very, very spectacular,

I declare the Games of the 28th Olympiad closed and, in accordance with tradition, I call upon the youth of the world to assemble four years from now at Beijing to celebrate with us there the Games of the 29th Olympiad,

I declare the 20th Winter Games closed. I call upon the youth of the world to assemble four years from now in Vancouver, to celebrate the 21st Olympic Winter Games.

Everything is in place to have a peaceful Games.

According to tradition I proclaim the Games closed and I call on the youth of the world to assemble in four years in Vancouver to celebrate the 21st Winter Games.

We are very pleased with the preparations. Like any Games, the final stretch of days is the most difficult one.

Think of 1993 the year of the vote for the 2000 Games. It was after the Berlin Wall fell. In Europe the Soviet Union had just disappeared. There was an economic crisis. I think there was a question about whether those events in the world would somehow contaminate China. Instead we went to Australia for safety. It was an excellent decision. This time there is not the fear over those changes.

The figures demonstrate that worldwide interest in the Olympic Winter Games is high.

It is something that we all wish for to see a joint Korean team participating at the Games, like the situation we had with the united German team several years ago.

If you look at the revenue for the next Games in 2008 we are already plus 30 percent in comparison to the previous Games. So this is a huge increase.

There is no doubt that after the great success you have achieved in Athens last year during the Olympic Games, and with the preparations that you have now for the National Games, I would not be surprised if China would lead the medal count in 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

These were truly magnificent games. We say a heart-felt thank you to Italy, Piedmont and Italy.

The Olympic Truce will not be eternal. After the games, bad habits will return. But this village is a perfect example of what the truce exemplifies. Here, athletes of different religions, political systems, races and languages live peacefully together.