How can a new sport be included in the Olympic Games programme?

This is a wish shared by many sports enthusiasts, and the IOC appreciates this enthusiasm. As a result, it tries to make the programme of the Games evolve within the limits and rules established. The sports that are eligible for inclusion in the programme, beside the current Olympic IFs, are only those “governed by other IFs recognised by the IOC”, as per the Bye-law to Rule 45 of the Olympic Charter (§1.3.2). If this criterion is met, it should be noted that the opportunity to propose additional sports to the programme is at the full discretion of the respective Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and subject to the final decision of the IOC Session. Learn more: Chapter 5 of the Olympic Charter, Rule 45 and its Bye-law The Olympic Programme Commission List of the International Sports Federations recognised by the IOC Reference document on the Olympic programme evolution

What are the conditions required for a sport to be recognised by the IOC?

To be recognised by the IOC, a sport must first of all be governed by an International Federation (IF). This is required in order to conform to the Rules of the Olympic Charter, the World Anti-Doping Code as well as the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of Manipulation of Competitions. Learn more: For more information on IF recognition, please refer to the Olympic Charter, Chapter 3, Rule 25 List of the International Sports Federations recognised by the IOC (see the "Contact Directory")

The Olympic programme comprises sports, disciplines and events – what is the difference between the three?

A sport is that which is governed by an International Federation (IF). A discipline is a branch of a sport comprising one or more events. An event is a competition in a sport or discipline that gives rise to a ranking. Thus, skiing is a sport, while cross-country skiing, Alpine skiing, snowboarding, ski jumping and Nordic combined are disciplines. Alpine skiing is a discipline, while the super-G, giant slalom, slalom and combined are events. Learn more: Education Series: The Modern Olympic Games, p. 9 For more information on the Olympic programme, please see the Olympic Charter, Chapter 5, Rule 45 and its Bye-law Reference document on the Olympic programme evolution

Who is responsible for adding events or disciplines to the programme of the Olympic Games?

The event programme for the Olympic Games is defined by the IOC Executive Board upon recommendations of the Olympic Programme Commission and in cooperation with the International Federations and the respective Organising Committee of the Olympic Winter Games. More specifically, any proposal for a new event put forward by the respective International Federation goes through a very strict review and decision-making process led by the Olympic Programme Commission, which involves representatives of athletes, International Federations and National Olympic Committees. Learn more: Chapter 5 of the Olympic Charter, Rule 45 and its Bye-law and Rule 46 and its Bye-law The IOC Commission for the Olympic Programme List of the International Sports Federations recognised by the IOC Reference document on the Olympic programme evolution

Who is responsible for the rules governing an Olympic sport?

The International Sports Federations (IFs) are responsible for the governance and technical management of their sport at the Olympic Games. As such, all questions or comments should be addressed directly to the IFs. Learn more: The International Sports Federations List of the IFs and contact (see the "Contact Directory") The Olympic sports The Olympic Charter, Chapter 3, Rule 26

Which sports are on the programme of the next Games?

The list of sports on the programme of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 is available on the official website of the Organising Committee: "Olympic Sports" section. Find out more about how the sports on the Olympic Games programme are selected and the IOC’s rules: Olympic Charter: Chapter 5, Rule 45 and its Bye-law Learn more: Factsheet: The programme of the Games of the Olympiad Factsheet: The programme of the Olympic Winter Games Reference documents on the history of sports at the Summer Games Reference documents on the history of sports at the Winter Games Reference document on the Olympic programme evolution

What do winners at the Olympic Games receive?

The first three athletes receive a medal. The first eight athletes in each event receive a diploma, and their names are announced to the public. Since the 1932 Winter Games in Lake Placid (USA), the medal award ceremony has always been made on a podium. The first-placed athlete, on the highest step in the centre, receives a gold medal and the title of Olympic champion. The second-place athlete stands to the winner’s right, and receives a silver medal; while the third-placed athlete stands to the left and receives a bronze medal. The flags of all three athletes are raised, and the winner’s national anthem is played. Learn more: Reference document: Olympic Summer Games Medals Reference document: Olympic Winter Games Medals Education Series: the Modern Olympic Games (pp.16-17) Olympic Charter: Chapter 5, Rules 56 and 57

Where can I find the medallists and results of the Olympic Games?

You can find all Olympic medallists and the results of the latest Games editions in the "Olympic Results" section of our website.

Sports, programme and results

How can a new sport be included in the Olympic Games programme?
- Initial sports programme
  The sports programme, which includes all sports for a specific edition of the Olympic Games, is determined by the IOC Session from among the sports governed by the International Federations (IFs) recognised by the IOC.
  Only sports which comply with the Olympic Charter, the World Anti-Doping Code and the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competition are eligible to be in the programme.
  
  OCOG proposed sports
  
  With the implementation of Olympic Agenda 2020 (adopted in December 2014), the process of establishing the Olympic programme changed to enhance the popularity of the Games while ensuring that the numbers of athletes, and the cost and complexity of the event, remain manageable. As part of this new process the Organising Committee of a specific edition of the Olympic Games may propose to the IOC the inclusion, for such edition only, of one or more additional events from the sports governed by the IOC Recognised IFs.
  Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee was the first OCOG able to propose new sports and included five new sports for its edition of the Summer Games - surfing, karate, sports climbing, skateboarding and baseball/softball.
  
  Learn more:

What are the conditions required for a sport to be recognised by the IOC?
- To be recognised by the IOC, a sport must first of all be governed by an International Federation (IF). This is required in order to conform to the Rules of the Olympic Charter, the World Anti-Doping Code as well as the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of Manipulation of Competitions.
  
  Learn more:
  - For more information on IF recognition, please refer to the Olympic Charter, Chapter 3, Rule 25
  - List of the International Sports Federations recognised by the IOC (see the "Contact Directory")

The Olympic programme comprises sports, disciplines and events – what is the difference between the three?
- A sport is that which is governed by an International Federation (IF).
  A discipline is a branch of a sport comprising one or more events.
  An event is a competition in a sport or discipline resulting in a ranking and giving rise to the awarding of medals and diplomas.
  
  Thus, skiing is a sport, while cross-country skiing, Alpine skiing, snowboarding, ski jumping and Nordic combined are disciplines. Alpine skiing is a discipline, while the super-G, giant slalom, slalom and combined are events.
  
  Learn more:
  - Education Series: The Modern Olympic Games, p. 9
  - For more information on the Olympic programme, please see the Olympic Charter, Chapter 5, Rule 45 and its Bye-law
  - Reference document on the Olympic programme evolution

Who is responsible for adding events or disciplines to the programme of the Olympic Games?
- The event programme for the Olympic Games is defined by the IOC Executive Board upon recommendations of the Olympic Programme Commission and in cooperation with the International Federations and the respective Organising Committee of the Olympic Winter Games.
  
  More specifically, any proposal for a new event put forward by the respective International Federation goes through a very strict review and decision-making process led by the Olympic Programme Commission, which involves representatives of athletes, International Federations and National Olympic Committees.
  
  Learn more:

Who is responsible for the rules governing an Olympic sport?
- The International Sports Federations (IFs) are responsible for the governance and technical management of their sport at the Olympic Games. As such, all questions or comments should be addressed directly to the IFs.
  
  Learn more:
  - The International Sports Federations
  - List of the IFs and contact (see the "Contact Directory")
  - The Olympic sports
  - The Olympic Charter, Chapter 3, Rule 26

Which sports are on the programme of the next Games?
- The list of sports on the programme of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 is available on the official website of the Organising Committee: "Olympic Sports" section.
  
  Find out more about how the sports on the Olympic Games programme are selected and the IOC’s rules:
  - Olympic Charter: Chapter 5, Rule 45 and its Bye-law
  Learn more:

What do winners at the Olympic Games receive?
- The first three athletes receive a medal. The first eight athletes in each event receive a diploma, and their names are announced to the public.
  
  Since the 1932 Winter Games in Lake Placid (USA), the medal award ceremony has always been made on a podium. The first-placed athlete, on the highest step in the centre, receives a gold medal and the title of Olympic champion. The second-place athlete stands to the winner’s right, and receives a silver medal; while the third-placed athlete stands to the left and receives a bronze medal. The flags of all three athletes are raised, and the winner’s national anthem is played.
  
  Learn more:

Where can I find the medallists and results of the Olympic Games?
- You can find all Olympic medallists and the results of the latest Games editions in the "Olympic Results" section of our website.