In 2005, he attended China's 10th National Games in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province. After seeing the opening ceremony, Rogge said, "With the preparations that you have now for the National Games, I would not be surprised if China led the medal count at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games."

He often expressed his love for Chinese culture and his support for the Beijing Games.

"I have visited some parts of China but you have such a wide and vast and rich country that I probably only have seen a very, very small amount.... What strikes me most is the cultural diversity of China and the richness of your culture," he said in an exclusive interview with China Daily in 2006.