Elton Tucker, Assistant Editor - Sport

President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Count Jacques Rogge (right) presenting a set of special Olympic Rings to veteran Olympian Herb McKenley (centre) at the Jamaica Olympic Association's headquarters on Cunningham Avenue yesterday. At left is JOA president Mike Fennell. Count Rogge who is here as a guest of the JOA will end his two-day visit to the island this evening. - Winston Sill / Freelance Photographer

President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Count Jacques Rogge, yesterday described veteran Olympian Herb McKenley as an icon and a legend.

"He is a great Olympian who has helped shape the Olympics and it is a great honour to greet him and to hand over a gift on behalf of the Olympic Movement," Count Rogge said shortly after presenting McKenley with a special set of Olympic Rings usually reserved for great Olympians at the headquarters of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA).

McKenley has been ailing for sometime, but he warmly greeted the IOC president and thanked him for the gift.

The 84-year-old McKenley was a member of Jamaica's first team to the Olympics in 1948 where he won a silver medal in the 400m and reached the final of the 200m where he placed

fourth. Four years later, in 1952, he ran a magnificent third leg for the quartet which took gold in the 4x400m in world record time.

The Calabar old boy also repeated his silver in the 400m and got a controversial second place in the the 100m final. Many felt at the time that the fast-finishing Jamaican had snatched gold from American Lindy Remigino.

The IOC president, who is on a two-day visit to the island as a guest of the JOA, was taken on a tour of the association's head office at 9 Cunningham Avenue by president Mike Fennell.

Fennell also presented the IOC boss with a special Olympic tie in Jamaica's national colours which Count Rogge promised to wear today.

Earlier he paid courtesy calls on Governor General Professor Kenneth Hall at King's House, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller at Jamaica House and Leader of Opposition, Bruce Golding, at the Jamaica Labour Party headquarters on Belmont Road and had lunch with the board of the JOA at the Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston.

The IOC president will host a press conference at the Pegasus Hotel at noon today after attending an extraordinary general meeting of the JOA. He will leave the island at 8:00 this evening.