President Samaranch created the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in 1983 to deal with the legal problems that an athlete could face. The purpose of the CAS is to bring about the resolution of sports-related disputes which are submitted to it through ordinary arbitration or through appeal against the decisions of sports bodies or organisations.
In 1993 the CAS became entirely independent, by creating a new administration and financing body, the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS), and adopting a new judgement structure.
The CAS is recognised by the "Paris Convention" signed by the presidents of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), the Association of the International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIWF) and the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), in the presence of the French Minister of Justice.
The goal of the Olympic Movement, as stated in the Olympic Charter, is to promote and contribute to the practice of sport in a "spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play". The spirit of fair play includes observance of the rules, respect for the opponent, and combating violence and unfair behaviour.
The International Committee for Fair Play (CIFP), established in 1963, aims to promote the practice of fair play principles, which are essential to sport. Each year, the CIFP awards International Fair Play Prizes on the basis of nominations received by various organisations and the public. Honorary trophies and diplomas are awarded to athletes, ranging from Olympic champions to beginners, chosen for their particular commitment to fair play.
"... it takes more than crossing the finish line first to make a champion. A champion is more than a winner. A champion is someone who respects the rules, rejects doping, and competes in the spirit of fair play."
Jacques Rogge, IOC President, at the Opening Ceremony of the XIX Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City in 2002.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the international governing body of sports for athletes with a disability. The IPC supervises and co-ordinates the Paralympic Summer and Winter Games and other multi-disability competitions, of which the most important are World and Regional Championships. The IPC also supports the recruitment and development of athletes at a local, national and international level across all performance levels. It is an international non-profit organisation, formed and run by 161 National Paralympic Committees and four disability-specific international sports federations.
During the last 30 years there has been a generalised increase in awareness of the social phenomenon of doping in sport. Given the scope of the problem and the danger this scourge constitutes for the health and well-being of athletes and young people generally, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) organised a World Conference on Doping in Sport in Lausanne from 2 to 4 February 1999.
Following this Conference, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was established on 10 November 1999. Its mission is to promote and coordinate the fight against doping in sport internationally. Thanks to this independent agency, the Olympic Movement and public authorities worldwide are able to intensify their efforts to banish drugs from sport.
The WADA Foundation Board is jointly composed of representatives of the Olympic Movement (the IOC, National Olympic Committees, International Sports Federations and athletes) and representatives of governments from all five continents. The headquarters of WADA are in Montreal (Canada). Regional offices have been established on other continents.
The World Olympians Association (WOA) is an independent global organisation representing Olympians. President Samaranch initiated its creation following the Centennial Olympic Congress, Congress of Unity held in Paris in 1994.
The WOA was founded to involve some 100,000 Olympians around the world.
| ASOIF | Association of Summer Olympic International Federations |
|---|---|
| AIOWF | Association of the International Olympic Winter Sports Federations |
| ARISF | Association of the IOC Recognised International Sports Federations |
| GAISF | General Association of International Sports Federations |
| ANOC | Association of National Olympic Committees |
|---|---|
| ANOCA | Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa |
| OCA | Olympic Council of Asia |
| EOC | The European Olympic Committees |
| ODEPA | Pan-American Sports Organisation |
| ODECABE | Organización Deportiva Centroamericana y del Caribe |
| ODESUR | Organización Deportiva Sudamericana |
| ONOC | Oceania National Olympic Committees |
| AIO | International Olympic Academy |
|---|---|
| CIPC | International Pierre de Coubertin Committee |
| Pierre de Coubertin Institute | |
| APAO | Pan-Iberic Association of Olympic Academies |
| PI | Panathlon International |
| CIFP | International Committee for Fair Play |
| ICHPER-SD | International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance |
| TAFISA | Trim and Fitness International Sport For All Association |
|---|---|
| CJIE / CICG | Committee of the International Children's Games |
| CIJM | International Committee for Mediterranean Games |
| CGF | Commonwealth Games Federation |
| IANOS | International Assembly of National Organisations of Sport |
| CSIT | International Workers' Sports Confederation |
| CISM | International Military Sports Council |
| FIEP | International Federation of Physical Education |
| FISpT | International Sport for All Federation |
| ISF | International School Sport Federation |
| FISU | International University Sports Federation |
| FISEC | International Catholic School Sport Federation |
| IMGA | International Masters Games Association |
| IWGA | International World Games Association |
| USIP | International Union of Police Sports |
| IPC | International Paralympic Committee |
|---|---|
| ICSD/CISS | International Committee of Sports for the Deaf |
| SOI | Special Olympics Inc. |
| ICSSPE | International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education |
|---|---|
| AICVS | International Association for Non Violent Sport |
| ECSS | European College of Sport Science |
| FIMS | International Federation of Sports Medicine |
| IAKS | International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities |
|---|---|
| WFSGI | World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry |
| AFP | Agence France Presse |
|---|---|
| AP | The Associated Press |
| Reuters Limited | |
| IASI | International Association for Sport Information |
| AIPS | International Sports Press Association |
| FICTS | International Sporting Cinema and Television Federation |
| WADA | World Anti-Doping Agency |
|---|---|
| WOA | World Olympians Association |
| IOTC | International Olympic Truce Centre |
| ENGSO | European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation |
| FIC | International Timekeeping Federation |
| Fondation internationale OLYMPAFRICA | |
| IOTF | International Olympic Truce Foundation |
| RTP | Right to play |
| ISOH | International Society of Olympic Historians |
| CAS | Court of Arbitration for Sport |