<p class="reg-lead">Olympic Charter, in force as from 24 June 2026 — the fundamental instrument of the Olympic Movement and the source of the authority of the International Olympic Committee.</p>
<table class="reg-facts">
<tr><td>In force as from</td><td><b>24 June 2026</b></td></tr>
<tr><td>Length</td><td>112 pages</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td>Current edition</td></tr>
<tr><td>Editions available</td><td><b>42</b> editions, from 1978 to the present</td></tr>
</table>
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<h2>The standing of this document</h2>
<p>Within the Olympic system the Charter serves as a constitution. It opens with the Fundamental Principles of Olympism and then sets out rules governing four things: the International Olympic Committee itself, the International Federations, the National Olympic Committees, and the celebration of the Games. Every other set of regulations in this system derives its validity from the Charter, and for that reason any challenge to the competence or authority of an Olympic body begins with this text.</p>
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<div class="reg-sec hi">
<h2>The most frequently cited rules</h2>
<ol class="reg-tl">
<li><b class="t">Rule 41 — Nationality of competitors</b> determines the country for which an athlete may compete and the conditions applying to a change of sporting nationality.</li>
<li><b class="t">Rule 42 — Age limit</b> leaves the age question to the International Federation for each sport.</li>
<li><b class="t">Rule 50 — Advertising, demonstrations, propaganda</b> is the basis of cases concerning the display of political messages at Games venues and restrictions on advertising on athletes' clothing.</li>
<li><b class="t">Rule 61 — Dispute resolution</b> places disputes arising in connection with the Games within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Arbitration for Sport.</li>
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<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>Why the dated edition matters</h2>
<p>The Charter is not a document revised once a year; more than one edition is sometimes issued within a single year — two editions in 2026. The text governing any given case is the edition in force at the time of the events, not the edition of the day.</p>
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<p class="reg-note">Earlier editions, from 1978 to February 2026, are available in this collection.</p>

Olympic Charter – in force as from 24 June 2026

International Regulations

WADA