International Olympic Committee

The International Olympic Committee is the non-governmental organisation responsible for governing the modern Olympic Games and leading the worldwide Olympic Movement. Founded in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas, it is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and oversees the organisation of the Summer and Winter Olympic Games as well as the Youth Olympic Games. The committee is recognised as the supreme authority of the Olympic Movement and maintains relations with National Olympic Committees, International Sports Federations and multiple associated bodies. As of the early 2020s, 206 National Olympic Committees are formally recognised. Leadership transitioned in 2025 when Kirsty Coventry became the first woman and the first African to serve as President.

Mission and Core Principles

The organisation’s mission centres on promoting Olympism, a philosophy that blends sport, culture and education. It aims to support ethical conduct, strengthen fair play and ensure good governance in sport. A significant focus is placed on youth development through sport and on the prevention of violence, discrimination and corruption. The committee emphasises the autonomy of the Olympic Movement and its neutrality in political, commercial and religious matters.
Additional mission priorities include promoting gender equality, safeguarding clean athletes through anti-doping measures, protecting athletes’ welfare and ensuring responsible environmental practices. The committee also supports programmes that facilitate athletes’ post-career development and encourages initiatives connecting sport, culture and education. Its work contributes to peace and international cooperation, including engagement with public and private organisations dedicated to humanitarian objectives.
All members pledge an oath committing themselves to the principles of independence, integrity and the defence of the values enshrined in the Olympic Charter. They commit to upholding ethical standards, rejecting discrimination and serving the interests of the Olympic Movement.

Historical Development

The committee was established at the end of the nineteenth century with the revival of the Olympic Games. Its first president was Demetrios Vikelas, who oversaw the initial preparations for the 1896 Games in Athens. Over the decades the organisation expanded its membership and solidified its role as one of the most influential international non-governmental organisations.
The first Winter Olympic Games were held in 1924 in Chamonix, and the Youth Olympic Games were introduced in the early twenty-first century, beginning with the Summer Youth Games in Singapore in 2010 and the Winter edition in Innsbruck in 2012. Until 1992 both the Summer and Winter Games took place in the same year, after which the Winter Games were scheduled for alternate even-numbered years to ease organisational and financial pressures.
Sustainability became a defining theme from the mid-1990s, when environmental concerns were added as a third pillar of the Olympic vision. Subsequent host cities developed strategies addressing air quality, waste reduction, energy use and environmental education. The committee’s observer status at the United Nations, granted in 2009, formalised broader cooperation, including support for the Olympic Truce.
In the 2010s and 2020s the committee faced high-profile controversies involving corruption allegations, digital content restrictions, doping scandals and debates about human rights issues in host countries. Despite these challenges it continued to expand its programmes, including the introduction of the Olympic Esports Games, planned for 2027 in collaboration with the Esports World Cup Foundation.

Governance and Organisation

The committee is constituted as an association under Swiss civil law. Its principal deliberative body is the IOC Session, which meets annually. Each member has one vote, and the Session exercises key powers including amending the Olympic Charter, electing members and leadership, and selecting host cities. Extraordinary Sessions may be convened by the President or at the request of one-third of the membership.
The Executive Board manages the organisation’s operations between Sessions, while the President provides overall leadership. The transition to Kirsty Coventry’s presidency in 2025 marked a significant milestone in the organisation’s history.
Multiple subsidiaries support the committee’s activities, including foundations, broadcasting services, marketing entities and cultural institutions. These bodies manage broadcasting operations, commercial programmes, cultural heritage initiatives and digital media platforms. Olympic House in Lausanne, inaugurated in 2019, functions as the headquarters and symbolises the organisation’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.

The Olympic Movement

The Olympic Movement consists of the IOC, National Olympic Committees, International Sports Federations, organising committees for the Games, athletes, coaches, judges and other stakeholders. The committee plays a coordinating role, ensuring that all participants adhere to the Olympic Charter. It supports athlete representation through the IOC Athletes’ Commission, which works to promote athletes’ voices in decision-making.
The committee’s responsibilities include protecting the integrity of sport by tackling doping, manipulation of competitions and related corruption. It collaborates with anti-doping agencies, law enforcement and sports bodies to ensure compliance with international standards. Health and medical care of athletes is also a central concern, with policies promoting safe sport and protection from abuse.

Sustainability, Legacy and Global Initiatives

Environmental stewardship forms an integral part of Olympic planning. Host cities are required to integrate sustainable development principles across all aspects of Games preparation and delivery. The committee provides guidelines and frameworks to ensure that events contribute long-term benefits to host communities. These include improvements in infrastructure, environmental management, public health and cultural engagement.
The Olympic legacy concept emphasises using sport to foster social cohesion, urban development and international understanding. Cultural and educational programmes run parallel to sporting competitions, reflecting the holistic vision of Olympism.
In recent years the committee has also strengthened cooperation with emerging global actors, including partnerships with BRICS nations, to reinforce the universality of the Olympic Games. Such efforts aim to expand access, promote inclusion and ensure that the Games remain a global celebration that transcends geographical and socio-economic divides.