International Olympic Committee (IOC)

"Citius, Altius, Fortius. (Swifter, Higher, Stronger.)"

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About the International Olympic Committee (IOC)

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is an organization based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas on June 23, 1894. Its membership is 205 National Olympic Committees.

The IOC organizes the modern Olympic Games held in Summer and Winter, every four years. The first Summer Olympics organized by the International Olympic Committee was held in Athens, Greece, in 1896; the first Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, in 1924. Through 1992, both Summer and Winter Olympics were held in the same year. Beginning that year, however, the IOC shifted the Winter Olympics to the even years between Summer Games, to help space the planning of the two events two years apart from one another.

The National Olympic Committees (NOC)

There are currently 205 National Olympic Committees (NOC) over five continents. The NOCs come together at least once every two years in the form of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) to exchange information and experiences in order to consolidate their role within the Olympic Movement. In this way the ANOC helps the NOCs to prepare for their meetings with the IOC Executive Board and Olympic Congresses.

The ANOC also makes recommendations to the IOC regarding the use of funds deriving from the television rights intended for the NOCs. These recommendations focus on the implementation of the Olympic Solidarity programs in particular.

The Olympic Movement

The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.

The Olympic Movement receives most of its funding from the Olympic Games rights bought by broadcast networks. However, it also benefits from the Olympic Partners (TOP) world-wide sponsorship program comprising multinational companies. The IOC distributes 92% of the revenue generated by the marketing of Olympic properties.

The Olympic Charter

The Olympic Charter is the codification of the Fundamental Principles, Rules and Bye-laws adopted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It governs the organization and running of the Olympic Movement and sets the conditions for the celebration of the Olympic Games.

The official languages of the IOC are French and English. However, at IOC Sessions, simultaneous translation is also provided into German, Spanish, Russian and Arabic.

In the event of any discrepancy between the French and English in the Olympic Charter or any other IOC document, the French text prevails.

You can download the Olympic Charter here.