International Olympic Committee

We are the International Olympic Committee, an organization you probably know by our acronym, the IOC. We were founded on June 23rd, 1894, in Paris, France, as a non-governmental sports organization. This means that we are not part of any single country's government; instead, we operate independently with a global focus. Our creation was inspired by our founder, a French educator named Baron Pierre de Coubertin. He had a powerful idea: to revive the Olympic Games, a tradition from ancient Greece that had been lost for centuries. His vision was not just about sports competitions. He believed in a philosophy he called 'Olympism.' Our mission is to promote this idea, which is centered on using sport to help build a better, more peaceful world. By bringing athletes together from all corners of the globe, we aim to foster understanding, friendship, and respect. We see ourselves as the leaders of the worldwide Olympic Movement, a collection of organizations and people who believe in the power of sport to unite humanity.

Our first major task after our founding was to turn this grand vision into a reality. We organized the first Olympic Games of the modern era, which took place in Athens, Greece, in 1896. The choice of Athens was deeply symbolic. By holding the Games in the country where they were born thousands of years ago, we created a direct link between our modern competition and its ancient roots, honoring a long and important history. As the Games grew, we also created symbols to represent our values. In 1913, we introduced the five interconnected Olympic rings. This famous symbol represents the unity of five continents, showing how the Games bring the world together. We also adopted a motto to inspire athletes and spectators alike: 'Citius, Altius, Fortius,' which is Latin for 'Faster, Higher, Stronger.' This motto encourages athletes to give their best and strive for excellence in every aspect of their lives, not just in their sport.

As the Olympic Movement gained momentum, we knew it needed to grow and evolve. One of our most significant expansions happened in 1924 when we established the first Winter Olympic Games in Chamonix, France. This was an important step because it allowed us to include a whole new category of sports that depend on snow and ice, such as skiing and ice skating, making the Olympic program more diverse and inclusive. However, our history has not been without serious challenges. The spirit of peaceful competition we champion was directly threatened by global conflict. The Olympic Games had to be canceled during World War I and again during World War II, as it was impossible to host a celebration of global unity while nations were at war. Later, during the period known as the Cold War, we had to navigate difficult political boycotts, where some countries refused to participate in the Games for political reasons. Through all these hardships, we have always striven to protect the core idea of the Games and keep the spirit of peaceful international competition alive for future generations.

Today, our responsibilities are more extensive than ever. A key part of our work is the detailed process of selecting host cities for both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. We also continue to innovate and expand our programs. In 2010, we launched the Youth Olympic Games, creating a new platform for talented young athletes from around the world to compete and learn about Olympic values. We also maintain a close and vital partnership with the International Paralympic Committee, the organization that brilliantly organizes the Paralympic Games for athletes with disabilities. As an organization, we are a non-profit, with our headquarters based in Lausanne, Switzerland. This non-profit status is central to our mission. The revenue we generate from broadcasting rights and marketing for the Olympic Games is not kept as profit. Instead, we distribute it throughout the world to support athletes and help sports organizations develop, ensuring that the Olympic spirit continues to thrive and inspire people everywhere.