Olympic Solidarity was created in 1962 to assist newly independent countries, particularly in Asia and Africa, in developing their own structures to promote the expansion of sport at national level.
At the time, it was named the International Olympic Aid Committee (IOAC).
In 1971, the IOAC was merged with a similar body created by the Permanent General Assembly of National Olympic Committees (the predecessor of the Association of National Olympic Committees) to become the Committee for Olympic Solidarity. Olympic Solidarity took on its current form in 1981 by decision of the IOC President, Juan Antonio Samaranch, and ANOC President Mario Vázquez Raña. It was tasked with meeting the needs of the NOCs.
In 1979, the decision was taken to allocate 20 per cent of TV rights to the NOCs, and in 1992 the first scholarships for athletes were allocated for the Olympic Games Barcelona 1992.
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Olympic Solidarity Factsheet 2021
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Evolution of the IOC
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1908: First publication of the Olympic Charter
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1913: First Public Presentation of the Five Rings Symbol
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1921: Founding of the IOC Executive Board
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1967: Creation of the IOC Medical Commission
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1981: Creation of the Athletes’ commission
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1981: First female IOC members
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1985: Creation of The Olympic Partner (TOP) Programme
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1995: The IOC President addresses the UN General Assembly
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2000: The IOC 2000 Commission
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2017: The Olympic Refuge Foundation
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2018: First Olympism in Action forum and the Athletes’ declaration