History
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the governing body of the Modern Olympic Games that are held every four years. It was founded in the year 1894 by Baron Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas and currently has the National Olympic Committees of 205 countries as its members.
The first Summer Olympics that was organized by the International Olympic Committee was held in the city of Athens in the year 1896 and the first Winter Olympic Games was held in the city of Chamonix in France in the year 1924. The IOC used to organize both Summer and Winter Olympic Games in the same year till the year 1992, when it decided to hold the Winter games in the even years between two Summer Olympics in order to plan them better.
Functioning
Since the time it was founded, the International Olympic Committee has been a parent organization whose intention is to localize the authority and the administration of the Olympics. It also acts as the only legal entity who owns the trademarks, intangible properties and copyrights that are associated with the Olympics. These include the design of the Olympic flag, the Olympic logo, the official Olympic anthem, the creed and the motto. The president of the International Olympic Committee is the person who represents it as a whole and the members of the IOC represent it in their respective countries.
The IOC Session and Executive Board
Held once every year, the IOC Session is a general meeting of the IOC members, in which each member has the right to cast one vote. It is the most authoritative body within the IOC and the decisions it takes are final. If the president of the IOC wishes or if at least one third of the members give a written application, an Extraordinary Session may be convened.
The IOC Session has numerous powers such as electing the Honorary President and members, electing the current president, vice-presidents and other members of the IOC Executive Board, electing the city which will host the Olympic Games and to amend laws from the Olympic Charter. The election of the president is valid for a term of eight years and is renewable only once for a term of four years.
The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee comprises of the current president, 4 vice-presidents and 10 other members. The members of the Executive Board are elected by the IOC Session via a secret ballot and on the basis of majority of votes cast. The overall responsibility of the functioning, management and administration of the IOC lies with the Executive Board.