In 1894, seventy-nine men, lead by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, created what today is known as the International Olympic Committee, at the first Olympic Congress, in Paris. A week later, the first meeting, or Session, of the members of the IOC was held in the Parisian apartment of the first IOC president, Demetrius Vikelas. "Citius - Altius - Fortius", meaning "Faster - Higher - Stronger", is chosen as the official motto of the IOC. It is also decided that Athens and Paris would be the host cities of the first two Olympic Games, in 1896 and 1900 respectively.

Today, more than a hundred years later, there is an Olympic Family, comprising Commissions, Institutes, Agencies, almost 200 National Olympic Committees, Organising Committees, International Federations, various associations, confederations, Councils, Unions, and Organisations. The IOC, with its headquarters in the neutral country of Switzerland, is governed by an Executive Board of eleven distinguished members, and a Session of ± 110 members, which makes such decisions as choosing a host city and tackles general problems collectively.

The IOC has faced various problems over the last century, including terrorism, doping scandals, boycotts, and even bankruptcy. But today it seems as if the IOC can't be stopped. At the last Summer Olympics, 197 nations, with more than 10,000 sportsmen and -women participated. The IOC's budget is more than $27,000,000. In Lausanne alone, the IOC has an Olympic Museum, the "Olympic House", an enormous complex with another extension that was added in 1998; and the "Château de Vidy", donated by the city of Lausanne to the IOC in 1968.

The creators hope that this site will answer any questions about the Olympic Games, or even just Olympism in general. If you have any questions about anything related to the Olympics, please feel free to contact us at username@domain.ext.