General·International Regulations·International Olympic Committee
Olympic Charter - 2018 edition
- In force from
- 2018/10/09
Olympic Charter, in force from 9 October 2018 — the foundational instrument of the Olympic Movement, which lays down the statutes of the International Olympic Committee, the standing of the International Federations and the National Olympic Committees, and the rules governing the celebration of the Games.
| In force from | 9 October 2018 |
| Authority | International Olympic Committee — Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Structure | Five chapters comprising the Fundamental Principles of Olympism, the Rules and the Bye-laws |
| Length | 99 pages |
What is the Olympic Charter?
The Olympic Charter performs three functions at once: it sets out the Fundamental Principles of Olympism, it serves as the statutes of the International Olympic Committee, and it lays down the rules governing the organisation of the Olympic Movement and the celebration of the Games. Each Rule in this document is accompanied by a Bye-law setting out the detail of its application.
The chapters address, in order, the Olympic Movement and its organisation, the International Olympic Committee, the International Federations, the National Olympic Committees, and the Olympic Games.
Why the Charter is invoked in Iranian sports cases
The Charter is not merely a document about the celebration of the Games; it is the source of three obligations that bear directly on the federations and on the National Olympic Committee of Iran:
- Autonomy from governmental interferenceA National Olympic Committee must remain free from political, legal and economic pressure; breach of this principle may lead to suspension.
- Prohibition of discriminationAny form of discrimination incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement is forbidden.
- Referral of disputes to the Court of Arbitration for SportThe Charter designates the Court of Arbitration for Sport as the forum for the resolution of disputes connected with the Games.
In addition, in order to be recognised by the International Olympic Committee, International Federations must bring their statutes and practice into conformity with the Charter — which is why the statutes of many federations contain an express reference to the Charter.
Who this document matters to
The National Olympic Committee of Iran, the sports federations and the athletes sent to the Games all operate within the framework of this document. For the sports lawyer, the Charter is the highest instrument that may be invoked in cases concerning the suspension of a federation, interference in sports elections, and eligibility to take part in the Games.