Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee, says the NHL should realize that sending its players to the Olympics raises the league's exposure and increases its fan base. "I think it's important for the Olympic Games to have the NHL," Rogge said Thursday. "That goes without saying. "But also I think it's important for the NHL to have their stars shine in the Olympic Games. If you look at the audience of the final of the Olympic hockey tournament, it matches the final of the Stanley Cup. That is a good promotion for hockey in North America." NHL players will participate in the Vancouver Winter Olympics, which open Feb. 12. However, the league has not decided if it will allow its players to compete at the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia.