Education

Doctor of Medicine; degree in sports medicine

Career

Orthopaedic surgeon; several international scientific distinctions

Sports career

Yachting: competitor at the Olympic Games Mexico 1968, Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976, winner of the Yachting World Cadet Trophy (1976). Rugby: player on the national Belgian team, Belgian national champion

Sports administration

President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) (1989-2001); President of the Belgian National Olympic Committee (1989-1992) then honour president (2013-); Chef de Mission at several editions of the Olympic Games; United Nations Special Envoy for Youth Refugees and Sport (2104-2018)

IOC History

Member of the Executive Board (1998-2013); IOC Representative on the Foundation Board of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) (1999-2001); President of the Coordination Commission for the Games of the XXVII Olympiad Sydney 2000; President of the Coordination Commission for the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad Athens 2004; Member and President of different commissions; President of the IOC (2001-2013); Several international honorific titles; Honorary President of the IOC (2013-)