Jacques Rogge Olympic Pathways Scholarship Presented
by Dana Paxton, US Sailing 6 Jun 2013 11:31 BST
6 June 2013
At a celebration in New York, N.Y. on June 4, the U.S. Olympic Committee presented the Jacques Rogge Olympic Pathways Scholarship, which will be administered by US Sailing. Named for International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, a three-time Olympian in the Finn class, the scholarship will award one young American sailor a full racing course in 2014 at Oakcliff Sailing, a US Sailing Team Training Center in Oyster Bay, N.Y. The sailor will be selected by US Sailing's Olympic Sailing Committee at the 2013 U.S. Youth Sailing Championships in Corpus Christi, Texas, scheduled for August 12-16.
"During Mr. Rogge's tenure at the International Olympic Committee, he has worked tirelessly for athletes and the ideals of fair sport around the world," said Josh Adams, Managing Director of U.S. Olympic Sailing. "We are proud to support the USOC and pay tribute with this scholarship, which honors his accomplishments as a sailor and an Olympian, and inspire the next generation of sailors with a dream to one day stand on the podium and represent the U.S.A."
The Jacques Rogge Olympic Pathways Scholarship will provide complete tuition at Oakcliff Sailing for one full course, funding that young athlete's development in competitive sailing in a high-standard sailing curriculum. The scholarship winner will be announced September 1, 2013.
Rogge was granted honorary membership in US Sailing and with it, official team gear from the US Sailing Team, the national sailing team comprised of 42 men and women who are campaigning for a berth on the 2016 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Teams.
An Olympic Finn dinghy was present at the celebration to symbolize athleticism and competition in the Olympic Games, and was adorned in the colors of the US Sailing Team.