STRUCTURE OF OLYMPIC ORGANIZATIONS

International Olympic Commission (IOC)

“The international Olympic movement is designed to centralize all authority in the hands of the IOC. The hundred-odd members are not accountable to the athletes, the sports federations, the fans or the national Olympic committees world-wide. They are not elected by their own countries so they can’t be held responsible, anywhere, for their arbitrary decisions… What do they say at their annual convention? We’re not allowed to know. All IOC meetings are private, followed by a stone-walling press conference.”
(The New Lords of the Rings, p. 56)

The IOC is the decision-making authority of the Olympic Industry. Its main functions are to select host cities, oversee preparations for Games, establish rules & policies of Olympic events, attract corporate sponsors, and negotiate licensing deals (inc. TV broadcasts). It is today comprised of some 114 members, overwhelmingly male, most of whom are wealthy businessmen, members of royal families, former military officers, and professionals. They are selected by the IOC executive board, which is made up of the IOC President, four vice-presidents, and ten others (all elected by secret ballot). The IOC meets once a year and is based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The IOC President is elected by IOC members for an initial term of 8 years, renewable once for 4 additional years. These limits on presidency were enacted after former presidents held onto their positions for decades at a time. The current president is Jacques Rogge, from Belgium.
Within the IOC is the evaluation committee, made up of IOC members with expertise in various areas. Delegates routinely travel to host cities & countries to inspect plans for finances, transportation, accommodation, Olympic venues, security, etc.
Despite their pseudo-official status, acting as de facto national & international representatives, none of the IOC members are in fact authorized by their countries of origin and are accountable to no one but the IOC. Although the IOC describes itself as a “non-profit, non-governmental organization,” it is the head office of a multi-billion dollar industry whose main purpose is profit, in collaboration with governments and corporations.
The IOC exercises control over national Olympic committees and sports federations through funding, including the distribution of money raised from sponsorships & TV deals. In a host city also, the IOC and organizing committee are powerful forces in that they control large amounts of money that will be invested in various industries.

International Olympic Committee
Chateau de Vidy, 1007 Lausanne, Switzerland
Tel: (41.21) 621 61 11
Fax: (42.21) 621 62 16

National Olympic Committees (NOC)

NOC’s are national representatives of the IOC that work to promote the Olympics and to organize the industry at a national level. This includes securing corporate sponsors, lobbying for Olympic athletes, training facilities, sports programs, etc. When a city enters the bid process, it does so in close collaboration with the NOC. If successful, the NOC continues to play an important role in the preparatory phase for a host city and during the Games themselves.
Members of a National Olympic Committee may be members of the IOC and/or a local organizing committee (i.e., VANOC). They are most often businessmen, former athletes/Olympians, professionals, etc.
There are some 200 NOC’s in the world. In Canada, the Canadian Olympic Committee is the country’s NOC. Its current president is Michael A. Chambers, and is based in Ottawa.

Canadian Olympic Committee
21 St Clair Avenue East, Ste 900, Toronto Ontario, M4T 1L9
Tel: 416-962-0262
Fax: 416-967-4902
Email: webmaster@olympic.ca

Organizing Committees (OCOG)

Local organizing committees are formed out of successful Bid Corporations (cities that win competitions to host Olympics). Examples include the Sydney Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG), Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC), and VANOC (Vancouver Organizing Committee). They are comprised of selected civic officials, businessmen, accountants, lawyers, and former Olympians (celebrities).
The Organizing committees are responsible for the planning, preparation and execution of Olympic Games in their respective cities. They handle multi-billion dollar contracts and sponsorships, and have influence over political and economic policies. Despite this, they are neither elected by the population nor are they accountable to them. Like the IOC, organizing committees are renowned for their secrecy and back-room deals.

Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC)
#400-3585 Gravely St., Vancouver BC, V5K 5J5
Tel: (toll-free) 1-877-408-2010
Fax: 1-778-328-2011
Email: info@vancouver2010.com

Whistler Office:
#202-1002 Lynham Rd., Whistler BC, V0N 1B1
Tel: (toll-free) 1-866-932-2010

2010 Information Center
4365 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, daily 11 AM – 5 PM

Federal Government
In 2007, David Emerson is the federal minister responsible for International Trade, inc. the 2010 Olympics.

BC Provincial Government
In 2007, Stan Hagen is the BC provincial minister responsible for Tourism, inc. the 2010 Olympics.

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