Olympic Movement

The Olympic Movement is a phrase often used by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and practitioners and administrators of international sport. However, it is not well defined. The Olympic Charter states simply that “The Olympic Movement, led by the IOC, stems from modern Olympism.” The IOC has, however, defined the phrase more fully in some of its press releases. It has stated that the Olympic Movement encompasses the International Olympic Committee, the International Sports Federations (IFs), and the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and that the IOC is the supreme authority of the Olympic Movement. In addition, the IOC has stated its purpose and its fundamental principles as “to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity, and fair play. The activity of the Olympic Movement is permanent and universal. It reaches its peak with the bringing together of the athletes of the world at the great sport festival, the Olympic Games.”