Founding of the IOC (1894)

Lore & Background

The IOC was born from de Coubertin's passionate vision of using sport as a bridge for international understanding and peace. At the 1894 Congress in Paris, delegates from 12 countries—including France, Greece, the United States, and Russia—voted unanimously to revive the Olympics, immediately establishing a committee to oversee the Games. The early years were a crucible of challenges: scraping together funding, hammering out standardized rules across wildly different sports, and navigating the treacherous currents of European politics. Yet from this struggle emerged the founding principles—amateurism, universal participation, and the Olympic Truce—that would anchor the institution for generations.

In Their Own Story

In the grand hall of the Sorbonne, beneath the silent gaze of ancient Greek statues, Pierre de Coubertin stood before a hushed gathering of delegates. The air was thick with the weight of history as he laid out his audacious proposal: to resurrect the Olympic Games after 1,500 years of silence. When the vote was cast, a murmur of approval rippled through the room, then swelled into applause. The IOC was born in that electric moment—and with it, a promise to unite the world through sport, a promise that would echo through the ages, from the first modern torch relay to the roar of stadiums yet unbuilt.

Reader's Guide

De Coubertin's vision of a multi-sport festival, inspired by the ancient Games, was realized in Athens 1896, where 14 nations competed in 43 events—a modest start that would explode into a global phenomenon. The IOC's role as a non-governmental, non-political body was forged during these early years, despite challenges like the 1908 London Games' political tensions. For the club's identity, this era is foundational: it established the ideals of fair play, internationalism, and the quadrennial cycle that define the Olympics today. Without the IOC's founding, there would be no modern Games, no global stage for athletes, and no unifying spectacle that transcends borders.

Did You Know?

• The IOC was founded at the Sorbonne in Paris on June 23, 1894, a date now celebrated as Olympic Day.
• Pierre de Coubertin was inspired by the ancient Olympic Games in Olympia, Greece, which dated back to 776 BC.
• The first IOC members were from 12 countries, including France, Greece, the United States, and Russia.
• The IOC's official languages are French and English, with French having precedence in case of dispute.