The International Olympic Committee (IOC)

The IOC is an international non-governmental non-profit organization and the creator of the Olympic Movement. The IOC exists to serve as an umbrella organization of the Olympic Movement. It owns all rights to the Olympic symbols, flag, motto, anthem and Olympic Games. Its primary responsibility is to supervise the organization of the summer and winter Olympic Games.

The International Olympic Committee is the supreme authority of the Olympic Movement. The International Olympic Committee was founded on 23 June 1894 by the French educator Baron Pierre de Coubertin who was inspired to revive the Olympic Games of Greek antiquity.

IOC Presidents

The IOC President is elected by the IOC members by secret ballot for an initial term of eight years, renewable once for four additional years. The President presides over all activities of the IOC, acting as its permanent representative. The current President, since 16 July 2001, is Jacques Rogge, of Belgium.

ICO Executive Board

The Executive Board, founded in 1921, consists of the IOC President, four Vice-Presidents and ten other members. All the members of the Executive Board are elected by the Session, by secret ballot, by a majority of votes cast, for a four-year term.

IOC Members

The members of the IOC are individuals who act as the IOC's representatives in their respective countries, not as delegates of their country within the IOC. The members meet once a year at the IOC session. They retire at the end of the calendar year of which they turn 70 years unless they were elected before the opening of the 110th Session (11 December 1999). In that case, they must retire when they reach the age of 80.

The term of office for all members is eight years, renewable every eight years. The IOC chooses and elects its members from among such persons as its nominations committee considers qualified. All Olympic Movement members have the right to submit nominations.

IOC Administration

The IOC administration is at the service of the needs of the Olympic Movement. It prepares, implements and follows-up on a day-to-day basis the decisions taken by the main organizations of the Olympic Movement.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) includes among its members active athletes and presidents of the International Sports Federations (IFs) and National Olympic Committees (NOCs). Numerous IOC members participated at the Olympic Games as athletes, including medal winners.

There are currently 116 members, 20 honorary members and 3 honor members. Juan Antonio Samaranch is Honorary President for life.

IOC Commissions

The work of the IOC Commissions contributes to promoting the ideals of the Olympic spirit in their specific domains. In order to study certain subjects and make recommendations to the Executive Board, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) sets up specialized commissions. Some of these are mixed, including IOC members, representatives of the International Olympic Sports Federations and the National Olympic Committees, athletes, technical experts, advisers and sports specialists.

• Athletes
• Culture and Olympic Education
• Coordination Commissions for the Olympic Games
• Ethics
• Finance
• International Relations
• Juridical
• Marketing
• Medical
• Nominations
• Olympic Philately, Numismatic and Memorabilia
• Olympic Program
• Solidarity
• Press
• Radio and Television
• Sport and Environment
• Sport and Law
• Sport for All
• TV Rights and New Media
• Women and Sport

National Olympic Committees

The National Olympic Committees (NOCs) propagate the fundamental principles of Olympism at a national level within the framework of sports activity. There are currently 202 National Olympic Committees over five continents.

NOCs are committed to the development of athletes and support the development of sport for all programs and high performance sport in their countries. They also participate in the training of sports administrators by organizing educational programs.

International Olympic Committee
Château de Vidy
1007 Lausanne
Switzerland
Tel: +41 21 621 61 11

Source: IOC