IOC reinforces its commitment to transparency and reform by publishing Host City Contract
Reinforcing its long-term commitment to transparency and reform, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today published the Host City Contract (HCC) Operational Requirements. This follows the publication in March this year of the HCC Principles, which enable the full implementation of the Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations and set out the general guidelines governing the relationship between the IOC, the host city, region or country, the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and the Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (OCOG), as well as their respective financial and contractual responsibilities. The Operational Requirements form the final part of the Host City Contract.
The new version of the document will apply to the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2026 and previously elected hosts, in line with the process agreed between the IOC and the respective organisers.
More than ever, the requirements strengthen the IOC’s ongoing effort to support hosts in delivering cost-effective, successful and legacy-enhancing Olympic and Paralympic Games. The updated Operational Requirements reflect outcomes of Olympic Agenda 2020’s the New Norm, which is a series of 118 measures that provides cities with increased flexibility in designing the Games to meet long-term goals and guarantees that they receive more assistance from the Olympic Movement.
See what the New Norm looks like.
In addition to ensuring the activation of the New Norm reforms, the Operational Requirements address the organisers’ commitment to respecting and protecting human rights in all matters related to the organisation of the Games.
Also included in the HCC is an IOC contribution estimated at USD 925 million for 2026, based on broadcast and TOP sponsorship programme revenues, the host broadcasting services provided, and transfer of knowledge activities.
IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi said: “This is another significant step in making the Olympic and Paralympic Games a reality for the communities that have the ambition of hosting the world’s biggest sporting event. We are enabling the organisation of Games that will be sustainable and create lasting legacies for their citizens, while also reducing complexity and costs.”
The measures embedded in the new contract are the next step towards achieving maximum potential savings of USD 1 billion for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and USD 500 million for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Some specific examples include:
- Streamlined Games delivery approach
- Enhanced integration with the Paralympic Games
- More partnership between the IOC, Olympic stakeholders and OCOGs
- Clearer allocation of IOC-paid services
- Maximise the use of existing venues and infrastructure
- Adapting requirements and service levels to actual needs
- Completely deleted or optional requirements
The document also supports the drive for continued integration and collaboration with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the governing body of Paralympic sport. The agreement includes the principles, timelines and milestones, guarantees and conditions required to sustain the Paralympic Games as an international multi-sport, multi-disability Games. In alignment with the New Norm, this also includes a further merging of requirements for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit independent international organisation made up of volunteers, which is committed to building a better world through sport. It redistributes more than 90 per cent of its income to the wider sporting movement, which means that every day the equivalent of 3.4 million US dollars goes to help athletes and sports organisations at all levels around the world.
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