Beyond the Games

Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.

The goal of the Olympic Movement is 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.

Olympism365

Olympism365 is the IOC’s strategy aimed at strengthening the role of sport as an important enabler for the Sustainable Development Goals, which is the focus of Recommendation 10 of Olympic Agenda 2020+5.

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Olympic Solidarity

Olympic Solidarity redistributes the share of the broadcast rights from the Olympic Games through programmes offered to all 206 National Olympic Committees. All Olympic Solidarity’s programmes are aimed at developing and promoting sport worldwide, and encouraging athletes’ participation in the Olympic Games.

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Gender equality and inclusion

Gender equality is a top priority for the Olympic Movement. The two main aims are to make access to sport in general and the Olympic Games easier for female athletes, and to increase the number of women in sports administration and management.

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Integrity

The IOC is committed to strengthening the integrity of sports organisations and protecting clean athletes. The fight against doping and any other forms of cheating in sport on the one hand, and the strengthening of ethics with improvements in transparency, good governance and accountability of sports organisations on the other, have been top priorities for the IOC.

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Sustainability

The IOC takes a proactive approach to ensure that sustainability is embedded in all aspects of organising the Olympic Games. Leaving a sustainable and positive legacy for the host city and country is a primary, achievable objective for all organisers of the Olympic Games.

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IOC Refugee Olympic Team

At the UN General Assembly in October 2015, confronted with the global refugee crisis that has seen an estimated 65.3 million people in the world displaced, IOC President Thomas Bach announced the creation of the Refugee Olympic Team – the first of its kind – to take part in the Olympic Games Rio 2016.

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Olympic Refuge Foundation

Created in 2017, the ORF marks the latest chapter in the IOC’s long-term commitment to helping refugees, by using sport to provide support throughout the world, 365 days a year. The ORF uses sport to improve well-being, develop social ties and create opportunities for displaced young people.

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Education through sport

Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Movement, believed that sport contributed to the harmonious and well-balanced development of the body, personality and mind. As such, interaction between sport, education and culture is encouraged by the IOC.

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Peace and development through sport

The IOC, through the Olympic Games and its programmes, supports peacebuilding, gender equality, sustainability and development through sport to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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IOC Young Leaders Programme

The IOC Young Leaders programme, launched in 2016, empowers talents to leverage the power of sport to make a positive difference in their communities.

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