History of the IOC

From boxing contests with no weight classifications or point scoring to chariot racing where danger lurked on every corner, it is easy to see why the ancient games enthralled the greeks for so long. here, we give you the essential lowdown, highlight our favourite facts.

Evolution of the IOC

Founded at the first Olympic Congress in Paris in 1894, the IOC is the leader of the Olympic Movement and the guardian of the Olympic Games. It acts as a catalyst for collaboration across the entire Olympic community. Discover some of the key milestones in the IOC’s history, from the first publication of the Olympic Charter in 1908 to the founding of the Executive Board in 1921 to the first ever Olympism in Action Forum in 2018.

IOC Presidents

Since the creation of the IOC in 1894, there have been nine presidents. The president is elected by the Session in a secret ballot among the IOC Members. Today, the president is elected for a term of office of eight years, renewable once for a period of four years. The current President is Thomas Bach – meet him and his predecessors here.

Pierre de Coubertin

Baron Pierre de Coubertin was only 1,62 metres (5’3”) tall, but by many measures, he was a giant of the 20th century. Born into the French aristocracy on 1 January 1863, he became a champion of the common man, embracing the values of France’s Third Republic—liberty, equality, fraternity—as a young adult.

Lausanne, Olympic capital

The IOC was originally based in Paris, until Pierre de Coubertin moved it to Lausanne on the shores of Lake Geneva in 1915. In 1994, to coincide with the centenary of the IOC, Lausanne was officially designated the Olympic Capital. Read here to discover more about the relationship between the IOC and the city it calls home.

IOC Congresses

The first Olympic Congress took place in Paris in 1894 and resulted in the creation of the IOC. Since then, there have been 13 Congresses, the most recent of which took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009. Less formal than the IOC Session, the Olympic Congress has a consultative function and is convened by the IOC President. It is a meeting of representatives of the constituents of the Olympic Movement.

The IOC thanks the International Society of Olympic Historians (ISOH), in particular Bill Mallon, Philip Barker, Volker Kluge for their valued contribution to the content of the Congress, Key Evolution, Presidents and Lausanne sections and George Hirthler for his valued contribution to the content of the Pierre de Coubertin section.