IOC Ethics commission

What does the IOC Ethics Commission do?

Its mission is to ensure respect of the ethical principles within the Olympic Movement, as defined in the Olympic Charter. To this end, the Ethics Commission determines the applicable rules and, in the event of a breach of these, can make a recommendation to the IOC Executive Board.

Who can be concerned by the Ethics Commission's recommendations?

The Ethics Commission can make recommendations concerning the people or organisations required to respect the Olympic Charter and the IOC Code of Ethics: IOC members, the Organising Committees for the Olympic Games (OCOGs), the National Olympic Committees (NOCs), cities bidding to host the Olympic Games and, during the Olympic Games, all those taking part in the Games.

Who can refer cases to the Ethics Commission?

Everyone concerned by a breach of the ethical principles set out in the Code of Ethics, provided that the complaint is against one of the bodies required to respect the Code of Ethics - the IOC members, the Organising Committees for the Olympic Games (OCOGs), the National Olympic Committees (NOCs), the Olympic Games Candidate Cities and Olympic Games participants. This complaint will be forwarded to the President of the International Olympic Committee for analysis and referral of the case with a view to a recommendation if the situation makes it necessary.

IOC Code of Ethics

Preamble

The International Olympic Committee and each of its members, the cities wishing to organise the Olympic Games, the Organising Committees of the Olympic Games and the National Olympic Committees (hereinafter “the Olympic parties”) restate their commitment to the Olympic Charter and in particular its Fundamental Principles. The Olympic parties affirm their loyalty to the Olympic ideal inspired by Pierre de Coubertin.

Consequently, at all times the Olympic parties and, in the framework of the Olympic Games, the participants, undertake to respect and ensure respect of the present Code and the following principles:

A

Dignity

1.

Safeguarding the dignity of the individual is a fundamental requirement of Olympism.

2.

There shall be no discrimination between the participants on the basis of race, gender, ethnic origin, religion, philosophical or political opinion, marital status or other grounds.

3.

All doping practices at all levels are strictly prohibited. The provisions against doping in the World Anti-Doping Code shall be scrupulously observed.

4.

All forms of harassment of participants, be it physical, professional or sexual, and any physical or mental injuries to participants, are prohibited.

5.

All forms of participation in, or support for betting related to the Olympic Games, and all forms of promotion of betting related to the Olympic Games are prohibited.

6.

Also, in the context of betting, participants in the Olympic Games must not, by any manner whatsoever, infringe the principle of fair play, show non-sporting conduct, or attempt to influence the result of a competition in a manner contrary to sporting ethics.

7.

The Olympic parties shall guarantee the athletes conditions of safety, well-being and medical care favourable to their physical and mental equilibrium.

B

Integrity

1.

The Olympic parties or their representatives shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit, accept or offer any form of remuneration or commission, nor any concealed benefit or service of any nature, connected with the organisation of the Olympic Games.

2.

Only gifts of nominal value, in accordance with prevailing local customs, may be given or accepted by the Olympic parties, as a mark of respect or friendship. Any other gift must be passed on to the organisation of which the beneficiary is a member.

3.

The hospitality shown to the members and staff of the Olympic parties, and the persons accompanying them, shall not exceed the standards prevailing in the host country.

4.

The Olympic Parties shall respect the Rules Concerning Conflicts of Interests Affecting the Behaviour of Olympic Parties.

5.

The Olympic parties shall use due care and diligence in fulfilling their mission. They must not act in a manner likely to tarnish the reputation of the Olympic Movement.

6.

The Olympic parties, their agents or their representatives must not be involved with firms or persons whose activity or reputation is inconsistent with the principles set out in the Olympic Charter and the present Code.

7.

The Olympic parties shall neither give nor accept instructions to vote or intervene in a given

manner within the organs of the IOC.

C

Resources

1.

The Olympic resources of the Olympic parties may be used only for Olympic purposes.

2.

2.1 The income and expenditure of the Olympic parties shall be recorded in their accounts, which must be maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. An independent auditor will check these accounts.

2.2 In cases where the IOC gives financial support to Olympic parties:

a) the use of these Olympic resources for Olympic purposes must be clearly demonstrated in the accounts;

b) the accounts of the Olympic parties may be subjected to auditing by an expert designated by the IOC Executive Board.

3.

The Olympic parties recognise the significant contribution that broadcasters, sponsors, partners and other supporters of sports events make to the development and prestige of the Olympic Games throughout the world. However, such support must be in a form consistent with the rules of sport and the principles defined in the Olympic Charter and the present Code. They must not interfere in the running of sports institutions. The organisation and staging of sports competitions are the exclusive responsibility of the independent

sports organisations recognised by the IOC.

D

Candidatures

The Olympic parties shall in all points respect the various manuals published by the IOC linked to the selection of host cities of the Olympic Games, in particular the Rules of Conduct Applicable to All Cities Wishing to Organise the Olympic Games. The cities wishing to organise the Olympic Games shall, inter alia, refrain from approaching another party, or a third authority, with a view to obtaining any financial or political support inconsistent with the provisions of such manuals and the Rules of Conduct.

E

Relations with States

1.

The Olympic parties shall work to maintain harmonious relations with state authorities, in accordance with the principle of universality and political neutrality of the Olympic Movement.

2.

The Olympic parties are free to play a role in the public life of the states to which they belong. They may not, however, engage in any activity or follow any ideology inconsistent with the principles and rules defined in the Olympic Charter and set out in the present Code.

3.

The Olympic parties shall endeavour to protect the environment on the occasion of any events they organise. In the context of the Olympic Games, they undertake to uphold generally accepted standards for environmental protection.

F

Confidentiality

The Olympic parties shall not disclose information entrusted to them in confidence. The principle of confidentiality shall be strictly respected by the IOC Ethics Commission in all its activities. Disclosure of other information shall not be for personal gain or benefit, nor be undertaken maliciously to damage the reputation of any person or organisation.

G

Implementation

1.

The Olympic parties shall see to it that the principles and rules of the Olympic Charter and the present Code are applied.

2.

The Olympic parties shall inform the IOC President of any breach of the present Code, with a view to possible referral to the IOC Ethics Commission.

3.

The IOC Ethics Commission may set out the provisions for the implementation of the present Code in a set of Implementing Provisions.