The Olympic Charter (OC) is the codification of the Fundamental Principles of Olympism, Rules and Bye-Laws adopted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It governs the organisation, action and operation of the Olympic Movement and sets forth the conditions for the celebration of the Olympic Games.

In essence, the Olympic Charter serves three main purposes:

a) The Olympic Charter, as a basic instrument of a constitutional nature, sets forth and recalls the Fundamental Principles and essential values of Olympism.

b) The Olympic Charter also serves as statutes for the International Olympic Committee.

c) In addition, the Olympic Charter defines the main reciprocal rights and obligations of the three main constituents of the Olympic Movement, namely the International Olympic Committee, the International Federations and the National Olympic Committees, as well as the Organising Committees for the Olympic Games, all of which are required to comply with the Olympic Charter.

Fundamental Principles of Olympism:

2. The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.

3. The Olympic Movement is the concerted, organised, universal and permanent action, carried out under the supreme authority of the IOC, of all individuals and entities who are inspired by the values of Olympism. It covers the five continents. It reaches its peak with the bringing together of the world’s athletes at the great sports festival, the Olympic Games. Its symbol is five interlaced rings.

4. The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play. The organisation, administration and management of sport must be controlled by independent sports organisations.

5. Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.

6. Belonging to the Olympic Movement requires compliance with the Olympic Charter and recognition by the IOC.

Download The Olympic Charter

PDF format, 637KB, 105 Pages. IN FORCE AS FROM 7 JULY 2007.

Published by the International Olympic Committee – October 2007

Abbreviations used within the Olympic Movement

IOC International Olympic Committee
OC Olympic Charter
R... Olympic Charter Rule...
BLR... Olympic Charter Bye-Law to Rule...
OCOG Organising Committee of the Olympic Games
IF International Federation
ASOIF Association of Summer Olympic International Federations
AIOWF Association of the International Olympic Winter Sports Federations
NOC National Olympic Committee
IPC International Paralympic Committee
ANOC Association of National Olympic Committees
ANOCA Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa
OCA Olympic Council of Asia
PASO Pan-American Sports Organisation
ONOC Oceania National Olympic Committees
EOC The European Olympic Committees
CAS Court of Arbitration for Sport
OGKS Olympic Games Knowledge Services
WADA World Anti-Doping Agency
IOA International Olympic Academy

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