International Olympic Committee (IOC) Community

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), established in 1894, oversees all aspects of the Olympic Games in which about 200 countries participate. Along with establishing rules and protocol, the committee chooses host cities and funds research on "olympism." Its branches include the National Olympic Committees from host countries, and the Organizing Committee which does the actual, well, organization of the games. Most of the IOC's revenue comes from selling broadcast rights to the Olympic Games (60% is distributed to the organizing committee of the host city) and from licensing the Olympic symbol. NBC paid $5.7 billion for the TV rights until 2012.