The International Olympic Committee was founded on 23 June 1894 by the French educator Baron Pierre de Coubertin who was inspired to revive the Olympic Games of Greek antiquity.

The IOC is an international non-governmental non-profit organization and the creator of the Olympic Movement. The IOC exists to serve as an umbrella organization of the Olympic Movement. It owns all rights to the Olympic symbols, flag, motto, anthem and Olympic Games. Its primary responsibility is to supervise the organization of the summer and winter Olympic Games.

The Olympic Movement consists of the IOC, the International Sports Federations (IFs), the 199 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), the Organizing Committees for the Olympic Games (OCOGs), national sports associations, clubs and the persons belonging to them, and, of course, the athletes. The Olympic Movement also includes other organizations and institutions that are recognized by the IOC.

The Olympic Charter contains the fundamental principles, rules and bye-laws adopted by the IOC. It governs the organization and operation of the Olympic Movement and stipulates the conditions for the celebration of the Olympic Games. The main purpose of the IOC and the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport, practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic Spirit, which requires mutual understanding, friendship, solidarity and fair play.

The IOC President is elected by the IOC members by secret ballot for an initial term of eight years, renewable once for four additional years. The President presides over all activities of the IOC, acting as its permanent representative. The current president, since 1980, is Juan Antonio Samaranch, Marqués de Samaranch, of Spain. His term will end in September 2001.

The members of the IOC are individuals who act as the IOC's representatives in their respective countries, not as delegates of their country within the IOC. The members meet once a year at the IOC Session. They retire at the end of the calendar year of which they turn 70 years, unless they were elected before the opening of the 110th Session (11th December 1999). In that case, they must retire when they reach the age of 80. The term of office for all members is eight years, renewable every eight years. The IOC chooses and elects its members from among such persons as its nominations committee considers qualified. All Olympic Movement members have the right to submit nominations. There are currently 113 members (including 10 active athletes) and 20 honorary members.

The Olympic Solidarity Fund was set up to organize aid to the National Olympic Committees, especially those with the greatest need such as those in developing countries. The aid can be direct financing to the NOCs, as well as programs designed jointly by the IOC and the NOCs with technical assistance from the International Sports Federations. The Olympic Solidarity is the arm of the IOC responsible for managing and administering the share of the revenue from the sale of broadcast rights af the Olympic Games and for redistributing it to the NOCs in order to help them develop sports in their countries.

The IOC is entirely financed by private means and distributes throughout the Olympic Movement about 93% of the funds it generates. The IOC receives no public funding. It derives its revenues from the sale of television rights for broadcasting of the Olympic Games and from marketing programs.