Olympic Solidarity’s aim is to organise assistance for all the National Olympic Committees (NOCs), particularly those with the greatest needs, so that they can develop their own structures to favour the expansion of sport in their country.
Three ways to support the NOCs
To help NOCs to fulfil these objectives, Olympic Solidarity offers an efficient consulting service to assist them in gaining access to financial, technical and administrative assistance through:
- World programmes, which cover and reinforce all areas of sports development;
- Continental programmes, designed to meet some of the specific needs of each continent,
- Olympic Games subsidies, which complement the range of programmes and offer financial support to NOCs before, during and after the Games.
The key concept is based on an autonomy between the world and continental programmes, but with complementary objectives and complete coordination in their management and implementation.
An already long history
In order to support a number of NOCs located in countries which had only recently become independent, the IOC decided at the beginning of the 1960s to organise its own methodical, comprehensive assistance programme to help the NOCs and, through them, the development of sport and the Olympic ideals. In 1962, Count Jean de Beaumont created the Committee for International Olympic Aid which merged with a similar body set up by the Permanent General Assembly of the NOCs, to form in 1971, the Committee for Olympic Solidarity.
1981: creation of the Commission
In 1979, at the constituent Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) in Puerto Rico, the IOC was asked to allocate 20% of the television rights earmarked for the NOCs to ANOC. In 1981, at the Olympic Congress in Baden-Baden, the IOC President at the time, Juan Antonio Samaranch, and the ANOC President, Mario Vázquez Raña, set up the Olympic Solidarity Commission, with an up-to-date strategy to respond to the interests and meet the needs of the NOCs.
Learn more: Olympic Solidarity - Creation and Development
Increase in revenue
Starting at the Games of the XXIII Olympiad in Los Angeles in 1984, the increasing income generated by television rights allowed the launch of key programmes to assist the NOCs. Since 1985, the Olympic Solidarity Commission has developed its activities on a quadrennial-plan basis.
Greater autonomy for everyone
The decentralisation process of the funds towards the Continental Associations was initiated in 2001, with the objective that Continental Associations should be able to decide on the use of financial resources according to their particular needs, priorities and interests, as well as those of their NOCs. For the 2005-2008 quadrennial plan and onwards, the Olympic Solidarity Commission has widened the decentralisation process to the Continental Associations and increased the financial assistance to the NOCs.
A global partnership
The global network of partners involved in setting up, implementing and monitoring Olympic Solidarity programmes, as well as providing technical expertise, makes up an essential action channel. Thanks to the contribution and support of the Continental Associations, ANOC, NOCs, IOC commissions and International Federations, as well as the high-level training centres, universities and experts in various fields, Olympic Solidarity is able to continue its mission of assisting the NOCs in the best possible conditions.
Learn more: 2009-2012 "Where the action is"
The Olympic Solidarity Commission is composed of IOC and Olympic Movement members, mainly NOC representatives. It is responsible for defining the main courses of action and managing the activities of Olympic Solidarity, for example by approving programmes and the related budgets and monitoring their implementation.
CHAIRMAN
Mr Mario VÁZQUEZ RAÑA
MEMBERS
Mr Husain AL-MUSALLAM
Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad AL-SABAH
Mr Patrick Joseph HICKEY
Ms Gunilla LINDBERG
HRH the Grand Duke De LUXEMBOURG
Mr Julio César MAGLIONE
Dr Robin E. MITCHELL
Mr Felipe MUÑOZ KAPAMAS
Mr Raffaele PAGNOZZI
Intendant General Lassana PALENFO
Mr Richard PETERKIN
Ms Yumilka RUIZ LUACES
VICE-CHAIRMAN
DIRECTOR IN CHARGE
Mr Pere MIRÓ
ADDRESS
Olympic Solidarity
Villa Mon-Repos
Parc Mon-Repos 1
Case postale 1374
1001 Lausanne
Switzerland
solidarity@olympic.org
Olympic Solidarity manages the share of the television rights from the broadcasting of the Olympic Games which belongs to the NOCs, and redistributes these funds through programmes offered to all NOCs recognised by the IOC.
Increasing resources
The development and assistance budget approved by the Olympic Solidarity Commission for the 2009–2012 quadrennial plan is USD 311 million.
In comparison with the 2005–2008 plan budget of USD 244 million, the new development budget represents an increase of nearly 30%. This increase of USD 67 million will enable Olympic Solidarity to implement its global development strategy and to continue the process of decentralising funds towards the Continental Associations.
Breakdown of the 2009-2012 budget
| World Programmes |
USD 134,000,000 |
| Continental Programmes |
USD 122,000,000 |
| Olympic Games Subsidies |
USD 42,000,000 |
| Administration / Communication |
USD 13,000,000 |
| TOTAL |
USD 311,000,000 |
Learn more: 2009-2012 "Where the action is"
The World Programmes covering the four areas of sports development are considered essential for NOCs to accomplish the mission that has been entrusted to them by the Olympic Charter.
19 World Programmes
For the 2009–2012 quadrennial period, the priority of the 19 World programmes is to reinforce the NOCs’ structure, to increase support for athletes at all levels and for youngsters in particular, and to increase assistance for the preparation of athletes for Continental and Regional Games, as well as for the NOCs’ preparation for and participation in the Olympic Games.
Four areas of action
Athletes
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Olympic Scholarships for Athletes “Vancouver 2010”
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Olympic Scholarships for Athletes "London 2012"
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Team Support Grants
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Continental and Regional Games - Athletes' Preparation
-
Youth Olympic Games - Athletes' Preparation
Learn more
Coaches
- Technical Courses for Coaches
- Olympic Scholarships for Coaches
- Development of National Sports Structure
Learn more
NOC management
- NOC Administration Development
- National Training Courses for Sports Administrators
- International Executive Training Courses in Sports Management
- NOC Exchange and Regional Forums
Learn more
Promotion of Olympic Values
- Sports Medicine
- Sport and the Environment
- Women and Sport
- Sport for All
- International Olympic Academy
- Culture and Education
- NOC Legacy
Learn more
Learn more: 2009-2012 "Where the action is"
The Continental Programmes offer the NOCs assistance that meets their specific needs and priorities on each continent and complements those offered at world level.
Boosting the Continental Associations
The Continental Programmes are managed by the Olympic Solidarity office of each Continental Association in complete coordination with the Olympic Solidarity international office in Lausanne. For the 2009–2012 quadrennial plan, the Continental Associations can choose which continental programmes to implement and how to distribute the relevant funds. However, certain basic elements should be covered, such as the running costs of the Association (if they are not covered by other sources), assistance towards the organisation of the Association’s statutory meetings and the payment of individual subsidies to NOCs for the development of their own programme of national activities.
Learn more about the Association of National Olympic Committees
Learn more: 2009-2012 "Where the action is"
The Olympic Games subsidies programme contributes to the success of the event.
Inspiring others with the universal spirit of the Olympic Games
The Olympic Games Subsidies programme is intended to help the NOCs to participate in the Games of the Olympiad and the Olympic Winter Games. The financial assistance provided has two quite different yet complementary objectives: to help foster the universal spirit of the Olympic Games by guaranteeing the participation of all NOCs; and to give additional support to NOCs, which contribute partly to the development and success of the Games.
Three main phases
This financial assistance is given in three phases:
- Before the Games: travel expenses for one person to attend the meeting between the Chefs de Mission and the Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (OCOG).
- During the Games: travel expenses for a number of athletes and officials, subsidy for logistical expenses and subsidy towards the transport and accommodation of NOC Presidents and Secretaries General.
- After the Games: subsidy to the NOCs for their participation in, and their contribution to, the success of the Games.
Additionally, if the OCOG organises an International Youth Camp, Olympic Solidarity contributes by covering the travel expenses of one young person designated by each NOC.
Learn more: 2009-2012 "Where the action is"