President of the International Olympic Committee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids President of the International Olympic Committee
Olympic rings
Incumbent Thomas Bach since 10 September 2013
International Olympic Committee
Member of	IOC Executive Board
Residence	Lausanne Palace
Seat	IOC Headquarters, Lausanne, Switzerland
Appointer	IOC Session Elected by the IOC Members by secret ballot
Term length	Term of eight years Renewable once for four years
Constituting instrument	Olympic Charter
Formation	1894
First holder	Demetrios Vikelas
Website	International Olympic Committee

The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the main leader of the International Olympic Committee. This person heads the executive board. This board is in charge of running the IOC and managing all its activities.

The IOC Executive Board includes the president, four vice-presidents, and ten other IOC members. All these members are chosen by the IOC Session. They are elected by a secret vote, needing more than half of the votes to win.

The IOC is the group that organizes the modern Olympic Games. These Games happen every two years. The Summer and Winter Games take turns, so each type of game happens every four years. The IOC president serves for an eight-year term. They can be re-elected once for another four years. A president who serves two terms would lead the IOC through at least two Summer Olympic Games and two Winter Olympic Games.

Meet the IOC Presidents

At first, people thought the leader of the country hosting the Games should be the IOC president. But this idea was quickly changed. In over 130 years, only nine people have been chosen to lead the organization.

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Country of origin
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Demetrius Vikelas (1835–1908)	28 June 1894	10 April 1896	1 year, 287 days	Greece
2		Pierre de Coubertin (1863–1937)	10 April 1896	28 May 1925	29 years, 48 days	France
3		Henri de Baillet-Latour (1876–1942)	28 May 1925	6 January 1942 (died in office)	16 years, 223 days	Belgium
4		Sigfrid Edström (1870–1964)	6 January 1942 6 September 1946	6 September 1946 15 August 1952	4 years, 243 days (acting) 5 years, 344 days	Sweden
5		Avery Brundage (1887–1975)	15 August 1952	11 September 1972	20 years, 27 days	United States
6		Michael Morris (1914–1999)	11 September 1972	3 August 1980	7 years, 327 days	Ireland
7		Juan Antonio Samaranch (1920–2010)	3 August 1980	16 July 2001	20 years, 347 days	Spain
8		Jacques Rogge (1942–2021)	16 July 2001	10 September 2013	12 years, 56 days	Belgium
9		Thomas Bach (born 1953)	10 September 2013	Incumbent	11 years, 287 days	Germany
10		Kirsty Coventry (born 1983)	23 June 2025	Elect	1 day	Zimbabwe

Demetrios Vikelas (1894–1896)

Pierre de Coubertin worked hard to bring back the Olympic Games. He tried in 1892, but it wasn't enough. He tried again at a meeting in 1894. This meeting was about amateur sports and bringing back the Games.

Coubertin got help from important people. One was Demetrios Vikelas, a Greek representative in Paris. Athens was chosen to host the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Greece was the original home of the ancient Olympics. Because of this, Vikelas was chosen as the first president of the IOC.

Pierre de Coubertin (1896–1925)

IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland

Pierre de Coubertin became the IOC president after Demetrios Vikelas stepped down. The Olympic Movement faced challenges at first. The 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris and the 1904 Summer Olympics were not very popular. They were overshadowed by big world's fairs happening at the same time.

The 1906 Intercalated Games helped bring excitement back. The Olympic Games then grew into the biggest sports event. De Coubertin created the modern pentathlon for the 1912 Summer Olympics. He also designed the Olympic flag and Olympic rings in 1913. In 1915, he chose Lausanne in Switzerland as the permanent home for the IOC. He left his role after the successful 1924 Summer Olympics. He became an honorary president until he passed away in 1937.

Henri de Baillet-Latour (1925–1942)

Henri de Baillet-Latour from Belgium was elected IOC president in 1925. He took over after Pierre de Coubertin. He led the IOC until he died in 1942. His vice-president, Sigfrid Edström, then took over.

Sigfrid Edström (1942–1952)

When Henri de Baillet-Latour died, Sigfrid Edström from Sweden became the acting president. This was during World War II. After the war, he was officially elected IOC president. He was very important in getting the Olympic Movement going again after the war.

Edström retired from the IOC presidency in 1952. Avery Brundage then became the new president.

Avery Brundage (1952–1972)

Avery Brundage became IOC president in 1952. He was elected at a meeting in Helsinki. During his time as president, Brundage was strongly against professional athletes in the Olympic Games. He believed only amateur athletes should compete.

This view became less popular over time. For example, Austrian skier Karl Schranz was not allowed to compete in the 1972 Winter Olympics. This was because he was seen as a professional. Brundage also opposed giving Olympic medals back to Jim Thorpe. Thorpe was a Native American athlete. He had played semi-professional baseball before the 1912 Summer Olympics. Brundage had competed against Thorpe in those Games.

Brundage also did not like it when politics mixed with sports. At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, U.S. sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists. This was to support the Black Power movement. Brundage wanted them removed from the Olympic team.

He is also remembered for his decision at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. He decided to continue the Games after a terrible attack. Eleven Israeli athletes were killed by terrorists. Brundage retired as IOC president after these Games. He had held the position for twenty years.

Michael Morris (1972–1980)

Michael Morris, 3rd Baron Killanin became the IOC president in 1972. This was just before the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. The Olympic Movement faced tough times during his leadership. There was the sad event at the 1972 Munich Games. Also, the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montréal had financial problems.

Because few cities wanted to host, Lake Placid, New York and Los Angeles, California were chosen. They hosted the 1980 Winter Olympics and the 1984 Summer Olympics. Killanin resigned before the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. This was because many countries boycotted those Games. They were protesting the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. He stayed until the Games finished.

Juan Antonio Samaranch (1980–2001)

Juan Antonio Samaranch was elected IOC President in 1980. This happened at a meeting in Moscow, just before the 1980 Summer Olympics. He officially started his role after the Moscow Olympics ended.

During his time, Samaranch made the Olympic Movement strong financially. He got big television deals and sponsorships. Even though the 1984 Summer Olympics were boycotted by some countries, many athletes still took part. More and more nations joined the IOC and participated in the Games during his presidency. Samaranch also wanted the best athletes to compete. This led to professional athletes being allowed in the Olympics over time.

Jacques Rogge (2001–2013)

Jacques Rogge was elected as president of the IOC in 2001. He took over from Juan Antonio Samaranch. Under Rogge's leadership, the IOC wanted to help more developing countries host the Olympic Games. He believed this could happen by making the Games less expensive and complex.

At the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, Rogge became the first IOC president to stay in the Olympic village. He wanted to be closer to the athletes. Rogge retired in 2013. He was then named Honorary President of the IOC for life. He passed away in 2021.

Thomas Bach (2013–2025)

Thomas Bach was elected President of the IOC on September 10, 2013. He took over from Jacques Rogge. His first Olympic appearance as president was at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. He is known for taking part in other sports events.

Kirsty Coventry (from June 2025)

Kirsty Coventry was elected President of the IOC on March 20, 2025. She will take over from Thomas Bach. She will be the first female and first African IOC president.

See also

• Presidents of the International Paralympic Committee