International Olympic Committee - UPSC Notes

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is an important non-governmental organization that looks after the administration of the Olympic Games held all over the world. In this article, students preparing for the IAS Exam or any other Government Exam can find the relevant details regarding the IOC.

Latest on Tokyo Olympics 2020 – 

1. Mirabai Chanu created history for India on July 26th 2021 as she became the first weightlifter to win silver in the 49-kg weightlifting category at the Tokyo Olympics. This was India’s first medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

Below given is the list of Indian Medalists in Tokyo Olympics 2020. The list will be updated as and when India wins more medals –

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is one of the important International Organizations which is a significant topic for the UPSC Prelims. The topic is also important for UPSC Mains for International Relations in the General Studies paper 2 of the UPSC Syllabus. 

Tokyo Olympics 2020

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has started from July 23rd and will last till August 8th 2021. Originally it was scheduled from July to August 2020, but got postponed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic spreading swiftly across many countries of the globe.

• The name ‘Tokyo 2020’ is not changed to ‘Tokyo 2021’ because of marketing and branding reasons.
• It is the first such delay in the Olympic Games’ 124-year modern history.
• The decision is a huge blow to Japan, which invested $12 billion in the run-up.
• In the past, there have been outbreaks of infectious diseases during Olympics time, such as Zika Virus during the 2016 Summer Olympics and H1N1 “Swine flu” during the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Important – Tokyo has hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 1964 thereby becoming the first Asian city to host Summer Olympics twice. 

Highlights of Tokyo Olympics 2020-21

1. The international event of the summer Olympics Tokyo 2021 is scheduled from July 23rd to August 8th 2021.
2. The motto of Tokyo Olympics 2020 was ‘United By Motion’. However, On 20^th July, 2021, the Olympic motto was updated to “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together”. The International Olympic Committee has approved the change.This updating was done to show solidarity around the globe at the time of the Covid-19 pandemic.
3. The mascot of Tokyo Olympics 2020 is Miraitowa; created by Ryo Taniguchi. It is derived from the Japanese words Mirai (future) and Towa (eternity). The mascot embodies both the old and the new, echoing the concept of “innovation from harmony”.
4. The logo of Tokyo Olympics 2020 is a checkered circle and has been designed by Tokyo based artist Asao Tokoro. The Logo is designed in a traditional Japanese colour, Indigo Blue, expressing a refined elegance and sophistication that exemplifies Japan. The three different shapes within the chequered design represent diversity, equality and excitement.
5. Over 11,000 athletes from 206 nations will compete in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics across a total of 46 sports, five of which will feature at the Olympics for the first time.
6. 5 New games were introduced along with fifteen new events including Baseball/Softball, Karate, Skateboarding, Surfing and Sport Climbing.
7. The official costs of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics published in 2020 was $12.6 billion and the overall spending was placed at least $25 billion. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the official costs of the organizers are expected to increase by $2.8 billion, thereby making the Tokyo 2020 Olympics the most expensive Olympics ever.
8. China became the first nation to bag gold in the Tokyo Olympics. Qian Yang won the medal in the women’s 10-meter air rifle competition, narrowly beating Russia’s Anastasiia Galashina.
9. China became the first nation to bag gold in the Tokyo Olympics. Qian Yang won the medal in the women’s 10-meter air rifle competition, narrowly beating Russia’s Anastasiia Galashina.
10. More than 100 Indian athletes have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics 2020, including two hockey and two relay teams. A list of all the Indian athletes who have qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is given in the PDF below-

List of Indian Athletes Qualified for Tokyo Olympics 2020 PDF:-Download PDF Here

Origin of IOC

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is a non-governmental international organisation that came into existence in 1894.

Objectives of IOC

1. The IOC has the aim of ensuring the regular holding of the Olympic Games and fostering Olympism and the Olympic movement. 
2. The Committee decides the rules and regulations of the Olympic Games. It also decides when and where the next Olympics event will be held.

What is Olympism?

• Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining, in a balanced whole, the qualities of body, will and mind. 
• Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of a good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles. 
• The goal of the Olympic movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practised without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair-play.

Structure of IOC

The IOC is a permanent organisation that elects its own members. 

• Each member must speak French or English and be a citizen of or reside in a country that has a National Olympic Committee. 
• With very few exceptions, there is only one member from any one country.
• Members were originally elected for life, but those elected after 1965 must retire at 75. 
• The IOC is the final authority on all questions concerning the Olympic games and the Olympic movement. 
• It was for the first time that 204 National Olympic Committees represented their countries at the 2012 London Olympic Games. 
• The Executive Board which meets four-five times a year to manage the IOC’s affairs has a President elected for an eight-year term and four Vice-Presidents who are each elected for a four-year term. 
  • There are usually six members on the Executive Board. These members are elected for a four-year term. 
• The administration is carried under the authority of a Director-General and a Secretary-General. 
• The Olympic Charter is the codification of the fundamental principles, rules and bye-laws adopted by the IOC. 
• It governs the organisation and operation of the Olympic Movement and stipulates the conditions for the celebration of the Olympic Games.

Activities of IOC

Under the supreme authority of the IOC, the Olympic Movement encompasses organisations, athletes and other persons who agree to be guided by the Olympic Charter. 

• The criterion for belonging to the Olympic movement is recognition by the IOC. 
• The activity of the Olympic movement is permanent and universal. 
• It reaches its peak with the bringing together of the athletes of the world at the great sports festival, the Olympic Games. 
• The Olympic Summer Games take place during the first year of the Olympiad (period of four years) which they are to celebrate. 
• They are the exclusive property of the IOC, which entrusts their organisation to a host city seven years in advance. 
• The programme of the Games must include at least 15 of the total number of Olympic sports (sports governed by recognized International Federations and admitted to the Olympic programme by the decision of the IOC at least seven-year before the Games).

IOC UPSC Notes:- Download PDF Here