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Relevance

The Olympic Games and the IOC are more relevant than ever in today’s divided world. They unite the entire world in peaceful competition.

  • The IOC organised two editions of the Olympic Games, Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022, in a safe way during the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. This ensured that the respective generation of athletes could still make their Olympic dream come true.

  • Athletes from the territories of 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team came together at Paris 2024 to compete fiercely on the field of play and to live peacefully in the Olympic Village despite the too many wars and conflicts and geopolitical tensions in the world.

  • Seventy-eight per cent of respondents, in an independent poll, emphasised that the Games are more important than ever in a divided world.

  • Seventy-five per cent of respondents said the IOC was successful in bringing the world together in peaceful competition.

  • The relevance of the Olympic Games with Gen Z is now higher than among the general population.

  • Some 84 per cent of the potential global audience, which equates to around five billion people, followed the Olympic Games Paris 2024 according to independent research. This makes them the most followed Olympic Games in history.

  • This relevance is also demonstrated by the fact that numerous UN resolutions have affirmed “the invaluable contribution of the Olympic and Paralympic movements in establishing sport as a unique means for the promotion of peace and development”.

  • Similarly, multiple UN resolutions have also supported “the independence and autonomy of sport as well as the mission of the IOC in leading the Olympic Movement”.

  • The IOC changed the Olympic motto, adding the word “Together”. It now is: “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together”.

What they have said

“I think that’s the beauty of the Olympics – you have such a multicultural and multinational crowd.” – Novak Djokovic (Serbia), Olympic champion and Olympic bronze medallist, tennis

“The Olympic Games, for me without a doubt, it is the most important event in the world of sport.” – Rafael Nadal (Spain), two-time Olympic champion, tennis

“In the Olympic Village almost 15,000 people from many different countries, many different backgrounds, many different cultures live together for this short period of time. It works. So, I think, somehow sport does bring people together. And that's the Olympic spirit. That's what it's all about.” – Alaa Maso (IOC Refugee Olympic Team), Two-time Olympian, swimming.

“Nothing is more contrary to conflict than the Olympic experience. The Olympic Games are a symbol of universality and diversity. A symbol of cooperation and loyal competition, instead of division and conflict.” – Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General.

Olympic Agenda reforms highlights

Olympic Agenda Highlights

IOC Members meeting at the 144th Session in Greece celebrated the achievements of Olympic Agenda. In a series of presentations, the highlights of the Olympic Agenda reforms and their impacts on the IOC and the wider Olympic Movement were outlined. They included a 30-minute film showcasing the achievements of the reforms with powerful testimonials from individuals, personalities and organisations, all of whom have been positively impacted.