International Olympic Committee Session
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| International Olympic Committee Session | |
|---|---|
| Name | International Olympic Committee Session |
| Formation | 1894 |
| Type | General assembly |
| Headquarters | Lausanne |
| Location | Various host cities |
| Parent organization | International Olympic Committee |
International Olympic Committee Session. The IOC Session is the general meeting of the International Olympic Committee where members of the IOC Executive Board, representatives of National Olympic Committees, officials from International Federations, and delegates from host cities convene to decide on matters such as Olympic host city selection, Olympic Charter amendments, and the recognition of National Olympic Committees (NOCs). Sessions have met in cities including Paris, Athens, Stockholm, Rome, and Lausanne, and have produced landmark decisions affecting the Summer Olympic Games, Winter Olympic Games, the Youth Olympic Games, and the awarding of Olympic medals.
History
The Session traces to the founding meeting of the International Olympic Committee in Paris (1894) convened by Pierre de Coubertin, which followed deliberations at events like the Congress of the Enthusiasts and contemporaneous assemblies in Athens (1896) related to the first Modern Olympic Games. Early Sessions addressed recognition issues involving Amateur Athletic Union, Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques, and the growing role of International Federations such as Fédération Internationale de Football Association, International Association of Athletics Federations, and International Swimming Federation. Throughout the 20th century Sessions were influenced by geopolitical crises including decisions around the 1916 Summer Olympics cancellation, the 1936 Berlin Olympics, the Moscow 1980 boycott, and actions tied to the Olympic Truce promoted at the United Nations General Assembly. In the post-Cold War era Sessions have overseen reforms inspired by scandals around bodies like the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency, and legal proceedings involving the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Functions and Powers
Sessions exercise powers codified in the Olympic Charter, including election of the IOC President, ratification of International Federations' rule changes, recognition of National Olympic Committees (NOCs), and the awarding of Olympic Games host city status. Sessions can suspend or expel members under provisions used in matters involving Rhodesia, South Africa, and Russia at the Olympics, and have delegated authority to the IOC Executive Board, Olympic Programme Commission, and the Coordination Commission for operational oversight. They also adopt amendments proposed by commissions such as the Athletes' Commission and consult with bodies including the International Paralympic Committee and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on legacy and cultural program alignment.
Membership and Participation
Session participants include full IOC members, honorary members, IOC Honorary Members, representatives from National Olympic Committees (NOCs), delegates from International Federations, and officials from prospective host cities like delegations from Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, and Los Angeles (2028). Athlete representation is secured through the IOC Athletes' Commission and liaison with unions such as the International Olympic Committee's Athletes' Commission and national associations like United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Observers may include representatives from the World Anti-Doping Agency, International Labour Organization, and bidding committees affiliated with municipal authorities like those of Madrid (bids), Istanbul (bids), and Milan–Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Session Procedures and Voting
Sessions follow procedures outlined in the Olympic Charter and operate under rules similar to assemblies such as the International Labour Organization Conference with presidium roles held by the IOC President and the IOC Executive Board. Decisions often require absolute majority votes or two-thirds majorities for host city elections and charter amendments, using secret ballot protocols akin to those in the United Nations Security Council elections. Key voting events include election of the IOC President, selection of host cities (as in the 2005 Singapore Session or 2009 Copenhagen Session), and amendments affecting events like the Modern Pentathlon or the inclusion of sports such as Skateboarding, Surfing, and Sport Climbing proposed by the IOC Programme Commission.
Notable Sessions and Decisions
Notable Sessions include the 1894 founding session in Paris, the 1896 authorization in Athens for the first Modern Olympic Games, the 1932 and 1948 deliberations concerning cancellations and postwar recovery, the 1972 responses to the Munich massacre, the 1984 Los Angeles commercial model endorsement, the 1999-2000 reforms following the Salt Lake City bid scandal, the 2005 election of a new IOC President, and Sessions that awarded cities like Beijing (2008), London (2012), Rio de Janeiro (2016), and Tokyo (2020). Sessions have also ratified inclusion of sports through proposals by federations such as World Baseball Softball Confederation and International Boxing Association.
Hosting and Organization
Sessions are hosted by member cities coordinated by local organizing committees similar to the Local Organizing Committee structures used in Olympic Games delivery, supported by national governments, municipal authorities, and bodies such as the Coordination Commission and IOC Session Services. Venues have included convention centers in Buenos Aires, stadia in Rome, palaces in Lausanne (Palace of Beaulieu), and conference facilities in Singapore and Copenhagen. Logistics involve security planning with agencies like national police forces, protocol managed with entities such as the International Olympic Committee Protocol Unit, and accommodation coordinated with hotel associations and transport authorities like metropolitan transit agencies in host cities.
Controversies and Reforms
Sessions have been central to controversies involving vote-buying allegations in bidding processes exemplified by the Salt Lake City bid scandal, governance critiques leading to the Montreux and Lausanne reforms, disputes over recognition decisions affecting Russian Olympic Committee participation, and debates over commercial partnerships with sponsors like multinational corporations and broadcasters such as NBC. Reforms have been driven by external pressures from organizations including the International Olympic Academy, World Anti-Doping Agency, and judicial review by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, resulting in changes to transparency, ethics oversight via the IOC Ethics Commission, and bidding procedures implemented after the 2002 reforms.