International Olympic Committee (IOC)

The International Olympic Committee was founded on 23 June 1894 in Paris by French educator Pierre de Coubertin and Greek sports official Demetrios Vikelas, who became its first president. It organizes the Summer and Winter Olympic Games and caps membership at 115, drawing from athlete representatives, international federation representatives and National Olympic Committee representatives. Amateurism rules were gradually phased out from the 1970s, with all professional athletes made eligible after the 1988 Games. The 2002 Salt Lake City bid scandal led to stricter bid rules, spending caps and new term and age limits for members. Kirsty Coventry became the first woman and first African elected IOC President in March 2025. The Committee has also faced controversy over Russian doping, human rights concerns tied to the Beijing 2022 Games, and historic sex verification testing practices.