Lausanne, Olympic Capital

The IOC was originally based in Paris, until Pierre de Coubertin moved it to Lausanne on the shores of Lake Geneva in 1915.

In 1994, to coincide with the centenary of the IOC, Lausanne was officially designated the Olympic Capital.

Discover more about the relationship between the IOC and the city it calls home.

1915: Establishment of the IOC headquarters in Lausanne

1922: The IOC establishes its offices in Mon-Repos

1948: Olympic Flame in Lausanne

1968: The IOC offices/general secretariat moved to the Château de Vidy

1982: Opening of the provisional Olympic Museum, Library and Olympic Studies Centre in Avenue Ruchonnet

1986: Inauguration of the first Olympic House in Vidy

1993: Inauguration of the Olympic Museum and the Olympic Studies Centre in Ouchy

1994: Formalisation of Lausanne as the “Olympic Capital”

2019: Inauguration of the new Olympic House

More about IOC history

Evolution of the IOC

Founded at the first Olympic Congress in Paris in 1894, the IOC is the leader of the Olympic Movement and the guardian of the Olympic Games. It acts as a catalyst for collaboration across the entire Olympic community. Discover some of the key milestones in the IOC’s history, from the first publication of the Olympic Charter in 1908 to the founding of the Executive Board in 1921 to the first ever Olympism in Action Forum in 2018.

IOC Presidents

Since the creation of the IOC in 1894, there have been nine presidents. The president is elected by the Session in a secret ballot among the IOC Members. Today, the president is elected for a term of office of eight years, renewable once for a period of four years. The current President is Thomas Bach – meet him and his predecessors here.

IOC Congresses

The first Olympic Congress took place in Paris in 1894 and resulted in the creation of the IOC. Since then, there have been 13 Congresses, the most recent of which took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009. Less formal than the IOC Session, the Olympic Congress has a consultative function and is convened by the IOC President. It is a meeting of representatives of the constituents of the Olympic Movement.