OLYMPIC CHARTER IN FORCE AS FROM 26 JUNE 2019 OLYMPIC CHARTER IN FORCE AS FROM 26 JUNE 2019 © 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 – September 2019 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 . 18 3 Recognition by the IOC .................................................................................................... 18 4 Olympic Congress* ........................................................................................................... 19 Bye-law to Rule 4 . 19 5 Olympic Solidarity*............................................................................................................ 20 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*............................................ 22 8 The Olympic symbol* ........................................................................................................ 23 9 The Olympic flag* .............................................................................................................. 23 10 The Olympic motto* .......................................................................................................... 24 11 Olympic emblems* ............................................................................................................ 24 12 The Olympic anthem* ....................................................................................................... 24 13 The Olympic flame, Olympic torches* ............................................................................. 24 14 Olympic designations* ...................................................................................................... 24 Bye-law to Rules 7-14 ...................................................................................................... 25 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* ...................................................................................................................... 41 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 ............................................................................................................ 50 22 IOC Ethics Commission* .................................................................................................. 52 Bye-law to Rule 22 ............................................................................................................ 52 23 Languages ......................................................................................................................... 52 24 IOC resources.................................................................................................................... 53 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 ................................................................................................... 66 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 of the Olympic Games*................................................................... 70 Bye-law to Rule 33 ............................................................................................................ 70 34 Location, sites and venues of the Olympic Games ....................................................... 72 35 Organising Committee*..................................................................................................... 72 Bye-law to Rule 35 ............................................................................................................ 73 36 Olympic Host Contract ..................................................................................................... 73 37 Olympic Games Coordination Commission* .................................................................. 74 Bye-law to Rule 37 ............................................................................................................ 74 38 Olympic Village* . 75 Bye-law to Rule 38 ............................................................................................................ 75 39 Cultural Programme .......................................................................................................... 75 II. PARTICIPATION IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES ................................................................... 76 40 Participation in the Olympic Games* .............................................................................. 76 Bye-law to Rule 40 ............................................................................................................ 76 41 Nationality of competitors* ............................................................................................... 77 Bye-law to Rule 41 ............................................................................................................ 77 42 Age limit ............................................................................................................................. 78 43 World Anti-Doping Code and the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of Manipulation of Competitions.......................................................... 78 44 Invitations and entries* ..................................................................................................... 78 Bye-law to Rule 44 ............................................................................................................ 79 III. PROGRAMME OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES .................................................................... 81 45 Programme of the Olympic Games*...............................................................................