International Olympic Committee

Hello! We are the International Olympic Committee, but most people call us the IOC for short. Our story starts not with us, but with an idea inspired by games that happened thousands of years ago in ancient Greece. A Frenchman named Pierre de Coubertin believed that sport could do more than just make people strong; he thought it could bring people from all over the world together. He had a grand vision to bring back the Olympic Games, not just for one country, but for everyone. On June 23rd, 1894, his dream became a reality when we were officially created in Paris, France. From that very first day, our mission has been clear: to help build a better, more peaceful world by celebrating sport and the people who play it.

Our most visible and important job is to organize the modern Olympic Games. Just two years after we were formed, we held the very first modern Games in 1896. We chose the city of Athens in Greece to be the host, which was a special way to honor the ancient origins of the Games. Since then, the world has gathered for this incredible celebration of sport. You might watch the Summer Games, with events like swimming and gymnastics, and then two years later, you can watch the Winter Games, with sports like skiing and ice hockey. This two-year rhythm keeps the Olympic spirit alive all year round.

A huge part of our work is choosing which city will host the next Olympic Games. Cities from around the globe tell us why they would be a great host, and we have the difficult task of making the final decision. Once a city is chosen, our job is just beginning. We work closely with the city’s organizers to make sure everything is perfect and safe for the thousands of athletes who will arrive. We help make sure the stadiums are ready, the housing for athletes is comfortable, and the transportation works smoothly. We also decide which sports will be included. While some sports are always part of the Games, we sometimes add new ones to keep things fresh and exciting for athletes and fans alike.

More than just a sporting competition, we believe the Olympics should be a force for good in the world. This guiding idea has a special name: "Olympism." Olympism is the belief that sport can teach important lessons and help create understanding between people from different backgrounds and countries. Our work is built on three core values that every athlete and fan can share: excellence, friendship, and respect. Excellence doesn’t just mean winning; it means trying your absolute best and celebrating personal achievement. Friendship is about connecting with people from other cultures and building bridges between nations. And respect means honoring the rules, your opponents, and yourself.

You can see our values in the symbols that are famous all over the world. Our most famous symbol is the five interlocking rings. Each ring represents one of the five inhabited continents of the world, and their connection shows how the Games bring the entire world together in unity. Another powerful symbol is the Olympic flame. Long before the Games begin, a flame is lit in Olympia, Greece. It is then carried in a torch by thousands of runners, traveling across countries and continents until it finally reaches the host city. This long journey, called the torch relay, is a message of peace and unity that connects the ancient games with the modern ones.

Today, our main office, called our headquarters, is located in the city of Lausanne, Switzerland. From there, we coordinate our work that reaches every corner of the globe. We are a non-profit organization. This is very important because it means that any money we make from the Games doesn’t go to individuals. Instead, it is put right back into the world of sports. We use it to help athletes and sports organizations everywhere. We partner with groups called National Olympic Committees in almost every country. These committees help us support their local athletes, giving them the chance to train and one day compete on the world’s biggest stage. We continue our mission to organize the Games and share the Olympic spirit, ensuring that future generations can be inspired by the power of sport.