International Olympic Committee (IOC)

News– Kirsty Coventry Becomes First Woman and African President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

About International Olympic Committee (IOC)

• It was established in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin to revive the ancient Greek Olympics.
• Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.
• Mission: “Building a Better World through Sport.”
• Roles & Responsibilities:
  • Governs the Summer, Winter, and Youth Olympics.
  • Oversees National Olympic Committees (NOCs) globally.
  • Ensures compliance with the Olympic Charter.

IOC Session:

• It is an annual meeting of IOC members to make key decisions.
• Members: 101 voting members + 45 honorary members.
• Decides on:
  • Amending the Olympic Charter.
  • Electing the IOC President and Executive Board.
  • Selecting the host city for future Olympic Games.

Process of selecting Olympic host Country:

• Informal Dialogue: IOC discusses potential bids with interested nations.
• Targeted Dialogue: IOC’s Executive Board invites a “preferred host” to refine its proposal.
• No Fixed Timeline: Selection depends on political, economic, and environmental factors.

Key selection criteria

• Geopolitical, socio-economic, human development and environmental factors
• Alignment with existing long-term development plans
• Envisaged sustainability and legacy impacts
• Political and public support
• Funding strategy
• Infrastructure readiness (transport, venues, accommodation)