No nostalgia for IOC's Rogge in Olympia last stand

ANCIENT OLYMPIA - There would be no trips down memory lane, nor pangs of nostalgia for Jacques Rogge after his last Games torch-lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia on Thursday, the International Olympic Committee President told Reuters.

Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, speaks during the torch lighting ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece, May 10, 2012.[Photo/Agencies]

Rogge, who took over the IOC in 2001 with the body reeling from a corruption scandal linked to the Salt Lake City Games, will step down in September 2013 after overseeing six Games torch lighting ceremonies at the site of the ancient Games in the western Peloponnese.

"I never look back," Rogge told Reuters after the lighting ceremony of the London Olympics.

"I am not a nostalgic man. I worked as hard as I could and it was always a privilege. But there will be no nostalgia," added the 70-year-old surgeon with a faint smile.

Renowned for his reserved manner, Rogge has managed to restore the organization's image following the biggest corruption scandal triggered by bribes for votes for Salt Lake City.

He also steered his organization safely through the global credit crisis and considerably boosted its finances during his time in charge.

The London Games will be his last in charge before the election of his successor during the IOC session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, next year.