Stronger Together
Supporting good governance: Compliance with the Olympic Charter and institutional requirements for NOCs
Good governance is essential to the credibility and integrity of the Olympic Movement, which is founded on universality and political neutrality. Its reputation depends on compliance with the Olympic Charter and on the consistent application of good governance principles by all its constituents. When these standards are not respected, the consequences can extend beyond the organisation concerned and affect the Movement as a whole.
Within the Olympic Movement, good governance goes beyond formal compliance. It is a shared responsibility rooted in transparency, accountability and political neutrality. These principles underpin the trust placed in National Olympic Committees (NOCs) by athletes, stakeholders, public authorities and the wider public, and are essential to ensuring institutional stability, transparent decision‑making processes and the autonomy of sport from undue external influence.
Throughout the year, tailored support was provided to NOCs to help them meet the requirements of the Olympic Charter. This support focused on institutional compliance, governance matters and the resolution of conflict situations, including internal disputes. Guidance was also provided to foster constructive and balanced relations between NOCs and relevant government authorities, while fully respecting the principle of autonomy of the Olympic Movement.
As part of this support, NOC statutes were reviewed and accompanied throughout their revision process. In 2025, 42 NOCs received support in revising their statutes, with 14 approved during the year, ensuring alignment with the Olympic Charter and the Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance within the Olympic Movement. The approval process for the remaining 28 statutes will be finalised in 2026.
The regular renewal of NOC leadership through elections held in accordance with IOC‑approved statutes, at least once every four years, remains a key principle of good governance. In practice, most NOCs organise their elections in the period following the Olympic Summer Games, in line with Olympiad‑based institutional mandates and strategic planning cycles. This trend was again confirmed in 2025, with elections held by 80 NOCs.
Support was also provided to NOCs facing internal governance challenges. Upon request, guidance was offered on reviewing national sports legislation in several countries, with the aim of ensuring compatibility with the Olympic Charter and full respect for the principle of responsible autonomy of national sports organisations. In parallel, close cooperation continued with NOCs in host countries of international sporting events, as well as with the relevant International Federations, to facilitate the participation of athletes, teams and sports officials in competitions without discrimination.
These efforts reinforced the IOC position that all eligible participants must be able to take part in international sporting events without discrimination by the host country, in accordance with the Olympic Charter and the fundamental principles of non-discrimination, autonomy and political neutrality that govern the Olympic Movement.
In the lead-up to Milano Cortina 2026, a total of 21 applications for athletes’ changes of sporting nationality requiring an exemption to the three-year waiting period under Rule 41 of the Olympic Charter were processed. Lastly, seven NOC institutional emblems were reviewed and approved.
Reinforcing administrative capacities
Responsible AI for the whole Olympic Movement
The Olympic AI Agenda, launched by the IOC in 2024, provides a strategic and governance framework for the responsible and human‑centred use of artificial intelligence (AI) across the Olympic Movement. It identifies high‑impact areas where AI can support athletes, enhance accessibility, strengthen engagement and improve operational efficiency, while maintaining strong ethical oversight.
As a first concrete delivery for NOCs under the Olympic AI Agenda, an AI assistant was launched on NOCnet in 2025. This AI‑powered chatbot was designed to help NOCs quickly find relevant information and resources across three IOC platforms containing key content for NOCs: NOCnet, Athlete365 and Olympic.org/IOC.
Developed with the support of IOC TOP Partner Alibaba, the project was implemented with the active involvement and user testing of the NOC AI Engagement Group, composed of representatives from the NOCs of Australia, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, China, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Liechtenstein, Morocco, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and ANOC.
Several members of the Group also attended the inaugural Olympic Movement AI Engagement Forum hosted by the IOC in November, which focused on support to athletes, clean competition and safe sport. The Group will continue to support the IOC in exploring further applications of AI to improve operational efficiency across the Olympic Movement and within their own organisations.
NOC Management and Knowledge Sharing
Olympic Solidarity supports the objective of enabling NOCs to deliver effective services to athletes and the wider national sports ecosystem by strengthening administrative capacity, improving tools and processes, providing management training for elected officials and staff, and fostering peer‑to‑peer learning and knowledge‑sharing.
Two World Programmes managed by the NOC Management and Knowledge Sharing Unit were in the limelight in 2025: International Executive Courses in Sports Management (MEMOS) as it celebrated its 30th anniversary, and NOC Forums, where Olympic Solidarity presented its 2025-2028 Olympic Solidarity Plan to the NOCs and fostered exchanges between NOCs.
International Executive Courses in Sports Management (MEMOS)
Founded in 1995 and supported by Olympic Solidarity since its inception, MEMOs celebrated its 30th anniversary with its 3rd MEMOS Convention in Rome in December 2025. In 2025, 35 participants were enrolled in the MEMOS XXVIII in English programme, of whom 35 were Olympic Scholarship-holders and 28 in the MEMOS XI in French (with 25 full Olympic scholarship-holders), totalling 57 participants representing 63 NOCs.
Speaking in public was challenging at first, but it really built my self‑confidence. You learn how to present yourself, your ideas and your work. I was no longer seen only as an athlete. After MEMOS, I had confidence - and others had confidence in me - that I could do serious organisational work. It was the turning point from being known as an athlete to having a professional career in sport administration. The NOC had confidence in me and hired me.
I used all the materials that the MEMOS programme provided, whether it was paper or human.
NOC Forums
NOC Forums are intended to provide a dedicated platform for the direct exchange of strategic and topical information with NOCs. They offer NOCs within a given continent a unique opportunity to meet in person and engage in meaningful dialogue. Through networking and knowledge sharing, the Forums contribute to strengthening collaboration and the international sports community. In 2025, Olympic Solidarity funded eight NOC Forums and three Continental Athletes’ Forums, with the NOC Forums providing an opportunity for Olympic Solidarity to introduce the Olympic Solidarity 2025–2028 Plan to NOCs.
Bringing together some 200 NOCs and 437 NOC delegates, the NOC Forums highlighted best practices and practical approaches for NOCs. Delegates participated in a series of workshops covering the various Olympic Solidarity programme areas, providing opportunities to share experiences and discuss the use and impact of Olympic Solidarity programmes within their organisations. The Olympic Solidarity offices of each Continental Association were fully integrated into the agenda, enabling participants to reflect on the optimal use of both World and Continental Programmes.
Main points of satisfaction for NOC Forums’ participants
- Practical relevance of content
- Peer exchange
- Increased awareness of Olympic Solidarity programmes
- Increased confidence to apply for Olympic Solidarity programmes
- Higher level of engagement in Olympic Solidarity programmes
Across all five continents, the Forums adopted an NOC‑centred participatory approach, encouraging interaction and active learning through small‑group discussions. NOC delegates were divided into groups of six to twelve participants and attended a series of workshops that enabled dynamic exchanges of ideas and best practices, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among participants.
The strengthened understanding and awareness of Olympic Solidarity programmes translated into higher levels of engagement and use compared to previous years, notably in the field of Olympic values. This stronger engagement was particularly evident among NOCs from Africa and Asia.
Complementing the programmes described above, three other Olympic Solidarity programmes within NOC Management and Knowledge Sharing continued in 2025 to make a meaningful contribution to strengthening NOCs’ administrative structures and overall functioning.
NOC Administration Development: In 2025, 199 NOCs received an annual Administrative Subsidy of USD 50,000, with an additional USD 15,000 allocated to 29 eligible NOCs. Alongside this core support, 126 NOC Management Initiatives submitted by 86 NOCs strengthened capacity in key operational areas.
National Courses for Sports Administrators: Fifty‑eight NOCs delivered 144 Sports Administration Courses in 2025, reaching 5,157 participants. At the same time, participants from 36 NOCs took part in 40 Advanced Sports Management Courses, further strengthening specialised management and governance skills.
NOC Exchanges: NOC Exchanges continued to promote peer‑to‑peer learning and practical knowledge sharing, with 13 exchange projects approved in 2025 to further strengthen NOCs’ administrative structures and management practices.
The Forum gave me the chance to ask all my questions about Olympic Solidarity and Olympic Council of Asia applications, and to better understand programme implementation and reporting.
The Forum provided valuable practical insights into programme delivery, accountability, and effective implementation, further strengthening our ability to maximize these opportunities. Engagement with fellow NOCs was particularly beneficial, offering proven approaches that can be adapted to enhance our systems and operations. We sincerely appreciate the support from Olympic Solidarity and remain committed to ensuring these programmes deliver meaningful and lasting impact in Malawi.