INTERNatioNAL Olympic COMMITTEE CHÂTEAU DE VIDY, 1007 LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND OLYMPIC CHARTER www.olympic.org IN FORCE AS FROM 8 DECEMBER 2014 OLYMPIC CHARTER – 2015 OLYMPIC OLYMPIC CHARTER IN FORCE AS FROM 8 DECEMBER 2014 © International Olympic Committee Château de Vidy – C.P. 356 – CH-1007 Lausanne/Switzerland Tel. + 41 21 621 61 11 – Fax + 41 21 621 62 16 www.olympic.org Published by the International Olympic Committee – December 2014 All rights reserved. Printing by DidWeDo S.à.r.l., Lausanne, Switzerland Printed in Switzerland Table of Contents Abbreviations used within the Olympic Movement .................................................................. 8 Introduction to the Olympic Charter........................................................................................... 9 Preamble ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Fundamental Principles of Olympism ...................................................................................... 11 Chapter 1 The Olympic Movement ............................................................................................. 15 1 Composition and general organisation of the Olympic Movement . 15 2 Mission and role of the IOC* ............................................................................................ 16 Bye-law to Rule 2 . 17 3 Recognition by the IOC .................................................................................................... 18 4 Olympic Congress* ........................................................................................................... 19 Bye-law to Rule 4 . 19 5 Olympic Solidarity*............................................................................................................ 19 Bye-law to Rule 5 . 20 6 Olympic Games* ............................................................................................................... 21 Bye-law to Rule 6 . 21 7 Rights over the Olympic Games and Olympic properties*............................................ 21 8 The Olympic symbol* ........................................................................................................ 22 9 The Olympic flag* .............................................................................................................. 23 10 The Olympic motto* .......................................................................................................... 23 11 Olympic emblems* ............................................................................................................ 23 12 The Olympic anthem* ....................................................................................................... 24 13 The Olympic flame, Olympic torches* ............................................................................. 24 14 Olympic designations* ...................................................................................................... 24 Bye-law to Rules 7-14 ...................................................................................................... 24 3 Chapter 2 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) ............................................... 31 15 Legal status ....................................................................................................................... 31 16 Members*........................................................................................................................... 32 Bye-law to Rule 16 ............................................................................................................ 37 17 Organisation ...................................................................................................................... 41 18 The Session* ...................................................................................................................... 42 Bye-law to Rule 18 ............................................................................................................ 43 19 The IOC Executive Board*................................................................................................ 45 Bye-law to Rule 19 ............................................................................................................ 47 20 The President* ................................................................................................................... 48 Bye-law to Rule 20 ............................................................................................................ 49 21 IOC commissions*............................................................................................................. 49 Bye-law to Rule 21 ............................................................................................................ 49 22 IOC Ethics Commission* .................................................................................................. 51 Bye-law to Rule 22 ............................................................................................................ 52 23 Languages ......................................................................................................................... 52 24 IOC resources.................................................................................................................... 52 Chapter 3 The International Federations (IFs) .................................................................... 55 25 Recognition of IFs ............................................................................................................. 55 26 Mission and role of the IFs within the Olympic Movement ........................................... 56 Chapter 4 The National Olympic Committees (NOCs) ................................................. 59 27 Mission and role of the NOCs*......................................................................................... 59 28 Composition of the NOCs*............................................................................................... 61 Bye-law to Rules 27 and 28 ............................................................................................. 63 29 The national federations ................................................................................................... 65 30 Country and name of an NOC . 66 31 Flag, emblem and anthem of an NOC ............................................................................ 66 4 Chapter 5 The Olympic Games ..................................................................................................... 69 I. CELEBRATION, ORGANISATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES .............................................................................................. 69 32 Celebration of the Olympic Games* ................................................................................ 69 Bye-law to Rule 32 ............................................................................................................ 70 33 Election of the host city*................................................................................................... 70 Bye-law to Rule 33 ............................................................................................................ 70 34 Location, sites and venues of the Olympic Games* ...................................................... 72 Bye-law to Rule 34 ............................................................................................................ 73 35 Organising Committee*..................................................................................................... 73 Bye-law to Rule 35 ............................................................................................................ 73 36 Liabilities – Withdrawal of the organisation of the Olympic Games ............................. 74 37 Olympic Games Coordination Commission – Liaison between the NOCs and the OCOG*................................................................ 75 Bye-law to Rule 37 ............................................................................................................ 75 38 Olympic Village* . 78 Bye-law to Rule 38 ............................................................................................................ 78 39 Cultural Programme .......................................................................................................... 78 II. PARTICIPATION IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES ................................................................... 79 40 Eligibility code* .................................................................................................................. 79 Bye-law to Rule 40 ............................................................................................................ 79 41 Nationality of competitors* ............................................................................................... 80 Bye-law to Rule 41 ............................................................................................................ 80 42 Age limit ............................................................................................................................. 81 43 World Anti-Doping Code .................................................................................................. 81 44 Invitations and entries* ..................................................................................................... 81 Bye-law to Rule 44 ...........................................................................................................