INTERNatioNAL Olympic COMMITTEE CHÂTEAU DE VIDY, 1007 LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND OLYMPIC CHARTER www.olympic.org IN FORCE AS FROM 9 SEPTEMBER 2013 OLYMPIC CHARTER – 2013 OLYMPIC OLYMPIC CHARTER IN FORCE AS FROM 9 SEPTEMBER 2013 © 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 2013 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 ............................................................................................................ 36 17 Organisation ...................................................................................................................... 40 18 The Session* ...................................................................................................................... 41 Bye-law to Rule 18 ............................................................................................................ 42 19 The IOC Executive Board*................................................................................................ 44 Bye-law to Rule 19 ............................................................................................................ 46 20 The President* ................................................................................................................... 47 Bye-law to Rule 20 ............................................................................................................ 48 21 IOC Commissions* ............................................................................................................ 48 Bye-law to Rule 21 ............................................................................................................ 48 22 IOC Ethics Commission* .................................................................................................. 50 Bye-law to Rule 22 ............................................................................................................ 51 23 Languages ......................................................................................................................... 51 24 IOC Resources . 51 Chapter 3 The International Federations (IFs) .................................................................... 53 25 Recognition of IFs ............................................................................................................. 53 26 Mission and Role of the IFs within the Olympic Movement .......................................... 54 Chapter 4 The National Olympic Committees (NOCs) ................................................. 57 27 Mission and Role of the NOCs* ....................................................................................... 57 28 Composition of the NOCs*............................................................................................... 59 Bye-law to Rules 27 and 28 ............................................................................................. 61 29 The National Federations ................................................................................................. 63 30 Country and Name of an NOC......................................................................................... 64 31 Flag, Emblem and Anthem of an NOC............................................................................ 64 4 Chapter 5 The Olympic Games ..................................................................................................... 67 I. CELEBRATION, ORGANISATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES .............................................................................................. 67 32 Celebration of the Olympic Games* ................................................................................ 67 Bye-law to Rule 32 ............................................................................................................ 68 33 Election of the host city*................................................................................................... 68 Bye-law to Rule 33 ............................................................................................................ 68 34 Location, sites and venues of the Olympic Games* ...................................................... 70 Bye-law to Rule 34 ............................................................................................................ 71 35 Organising Committee*..................................................................................................... 71 Bye-law to Rule 35 ............................................................................................................ 71 36 Liabilities – Withdrawal of the organisation of the Olympic Games ............................. 72 37 Olympic Games Coordination Commission – Liaison between the NOCs and the OCOG*................................................................ 73 Bye-law to Rule 37 ............................................................................................................ 73 38 Olympic Village* . 76 Bye-law to Rule 38 ............................................................................................................ 76 39 Cultural Programme .......................................................................................................... 76 II. PARTICIPATION IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES ................................................................... 77 40 Eligibility Code* ................................................................................................................. 77 Bye-law to Rule 40 ............................................................................................................ 77 41 Nationality of Competitors* .............................................................................................. 78 Bye-law to Rule 41 ............................................................................................................ 78 42 Age limit ............................................................................................................................. 79 43