International Olympic Committee
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International Olympic Committee |
The International Olympic Committee is an organization based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas on June 23, 1894 to reinstate the Ancient Olympic Games held in Greece between 776 BC to 396 AD.
The IOC Session (composed of the IOC Members) elects, by secret ballot, a President from among its members for a term of eight years renewable once for four years.
| IOC Presidents | |||
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Jacques Rogge | Belguim | 2001– |
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Juan Antonio Samaranch | Spain | 1980–2001 |
| Lord Killanin | Ireland | 1972–1980 | |
| Avery Brundage | USA | 1952–1972 | |
| Sigfrid Edstrom | Sweden | 1946–1952 | |
| Henri de Baillet-Latour | Belgium | 1925–1942 | |
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Pierre de Coubertin | France | 1896–1925 |
| Demetrius Vikelas | Greece | 1894–1896 | |
On June 23, 1894 the Olympic games were re-created by Pierre de Coubertin after a hiatus of 1500 years. The baron hoped to foster international communication and peace through the Olympic Games. The IOC is a parent organization intended to localize administration and authority for the Games, as well as to provide a single legal entity which owns copyrights, trademarks, and other intangible properties associated with the Olympic games. For example, the Olympic logos, the design of the Olympic flag, the motto, creed, and anthem are all owned and administered by the IOC. There are other organisations which the IOC coordinates as well, which are collectively called the Olympic Movement. The IOC President is responsible for representing the IOC as a whole, and there are members of the IOC which represent the IOC in their respective countries.
The mission of the IOC is to promote Olympism throughout the world and to lead the Olympic Movement. The IOC’s role is:
to encourage and support the promotion of ethics in sport as well as education of youth through sport and to dedicate its efforts to ensuring that, in sport, the spirit of fair play prevails and violence is banned;
to encourage and support the organisation, development and coordination of sport and sports competitions;
to ensure the regular celebration of the Olympic Games;
to cooperate with the competent public or private organisations and authorities in the endeavour to place sport at the service of humanity and thereby to promote peace;
to take action in order to strengthen the unity and to protect the independence of the Olympic Movement;
to act against any form of discrimination affecting the Olympic Movement;
to encourage and support the promotion of women in sport at all levels and in all structures with a view to implementing the principle of equality of men and women;
to lead the fight against doping in sport;
to encourage and support measures protecting the health of athletes;
to oppose any political or commercial abuse of sport and athletes;
to encourage and support the efforts of sports organisations and public authorities to provide for the social and professional future of athletes;
to encourage and support the development of sport for all;
to encourage and support a responsible concern for environmental issues, to promote sustainable development in sport and to require that the Olympic Games are held accordingly;
to promote a positive legacy from the Olympic Games to the host cities and host countries;
to encourage and support initiatives blending sport with culture and education;
to encourage and support the activities of the International Olympic Academy (“IOA”) and other institutions which dedicate themselves to Olympic education.
taken from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
