Currently, the president of the International Olympic Committee is held by Thomas Bach, while the president of the International Paralympic Committee is held by Sir Philip Craven. The IOC President may be re-elected only once, in conformity with Rule 24 of the Olympic Charter in force:
The IOC elects, by secret ballot, a President from among its members, for a term of eight years, renewable once for four years.
Demetrius Vikelas
Demetrius Vikelas was born on 15 February 1835 at Ermoupolis on the island of Syros in Greece. Born into a family of traders, he was initiated into the world of commerce early on. By the age of 13, he was working in the family firm in Odessa. A great lover of literature, he continued to study at the same time, but without obtaining a degree. Throughout his life, Vikelas remained a self-taught man, despite at various times following courses in a variety of subjects, including botany, architecture and languages.
In 1851, after the family firm went bankrupt, Vikelas left his native Greece. After visiting several European cities, he settled in London, where two of his uncles employed him in their company, Melas Bros, specialising in trading cereals. Employed first as a bookkeeper, he expanded his knowledge of business and subsequently became a partner of what was then a flourishing company. During his 25 years within the company, Vikelas accumulated a large amount of capital. In 1866, his marriage to a rich Greek heiress, Kalliopis Jeralopoulou, only added to this capital. As a result, when Melas Bros went bankrupt in 1876, his fortune was sufficient to enable him to retire in comfort from the business world. He then devoted himself full-time to his literary activities. As well as translating classical works into modern Greek, he wrote essays on education and history, some novels and various press articles. In addition, after moving to Paris in 1878, he worked actively to promote Greece in Europe, and frequented intellectual circles.
In 1894, at the request of Loannis Fokianos – an athletics instructor heavily involved in Greek sport – Vikelas agreed to represent the Pan-Hellenic Gymnastics Club at the International Athletic Congress in Paris. Before this experience, Vikelas had no particular link to the world of sport. He nonetheless joined the second commission responsible for re-establishing the Olympic Games (OG). To his great surprise, he was appointed as the first President of what would become the International Olympic Committee (IOC). With Baron Pierre de Coubertin, he was one of the main figures behind the organisation of the first modern OG in Athens, in 1896. Once this project had been completed, he handed over the presidency to the Baron, but remained an IOC member until 1899. He re-entered the Olympic world when he was appointed as Greece’s delegate at the 1905 Olympic Congress in Brussels.
All his life, Vikelas maintained a deep enthusiasm for the country of his birth, and was involved in numerous education initiatives. Through his efforts, Greece acquired an education museum, a school for the blind, a school shooting range and an apprenticeship school for workers. Awarded various distinctions, including an honorary doctorate from St Andrews University in Scotland (1893), he was also made a Commander of the National Order of Denmark and an Officer of the French Legion of Honour before his death in Athens on 20 July 1908.
In 1851, after the family firm went bankrupt, Vikelas left his native Greece. After visiting several European cities, he settled in London, where two of his uncles employed him in their company, Melas Bros, specialising in trading cereals. Employed first as a bookkeeper, he expanded his knowledge of business and subsequently became a partner of what was then a flourishing company. During his 25 years within the company, Vikelas accumulated a large amount of capital. In 1866, his marriage to a rich Greek heiress, Kalliopis Jeralopoulou, only added to this capital. As a result, when Melas Bros went bankrupt in 1876, his fortune was sufficient to enable him to retire in comfort from the business world. He then devoted himself full-time to his literary activities. As well as translating classical works into modern Greek, he wrote essays on education and history, some novels and various press articles. In addition, after moving to Paris in 1878, he worked actively to promote Greece in Europe, and frequented intellectual circles.
In 1894, at the request of Loannis Fokianos – an athletics instructor heavily involved in Greek sport – Vikelas agreed to represent the Pan-Hellenic Gymnastics Club at the International Athletic Congress in Paris. Before this experience, Vikelas had no particular link to the world of sport. He nonetheless joined the second commission responsible for re-establishing the Olympic Games (OG). To his great surprise, he was appointed as the first President of what would become the International Olympic Committee (IOC). With Baron Pierre de Coubertin, he was one of the main figures behind the organisation of the first modern OG in Athens, in 1896. Once this project had been completed, he handed over the presidency to the Baron, but remained an IOC member until 1899. He re-entered the Olympic world when he was appointed as Greece’s delegate at the 1905 Olympic Congress in Brussels.
All his life, Vikelas maintained a deep enthusiasm for the country of his birth, and was involved in numerous education initiatives. Through his efforts, Greece acquired an education museum, a school for the blind, a school shooting range and an apprenticeship school for workers. Awarded various distinctions, including an honorary doctorate from St Andrews University in Scotland (1893), he was also made a Commander of the National Order of Denmark and an Officer of the French Legion of Honour before his death in Athens on 20 July 1908.
Pierre de Coubertin
Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin, was born in Paris on 1 January 1863. He was the youngest of four children. His father, Charles de Frédy de Coubertin, was a painter. His mother, Marie-Marcelle Gigault de Crisenoy, inherited the family château at Mirville (Normandy), where Pierre de Coubertin spent most of his childhood when not travelling around Europe with his family.
Coubertin had a classical education at the Jesuit College of St Ignatius in Paris. In 1880, he passed his baccalaureate in literature. Although accepted by the Military School of Saint Cyr – like many sons of noble families at the time – he chose instead to study at the Law Faculty of the Political Sciences School. However, with little enthusiasm for a career in this field, he turned to education, which became a veritable passion. Thus it was that, in 1883, influenced by the work of French philosopher and historian Hippolyte Taine, and that of the Englishman Thomas Arnold (the Head of Rugby School), he went to England to compare the British and French education systems. After this trip, he began his life’s work, namely reforming the education system through sport. Convinced of the importance of including sport in the balanced education of a person, he then devoted himself to spreading this idea using all means available: lectures, publications, setting up sports or educational societies, etc. These included the Union des sociétés françaises de course à pied (1887), l’Association pour la réforme de l’enseignement (1906), the Olympic Museum and Library (1925), l’Union Pédagogique Universelle (UPU, 1925) and the Bureau international de pédagogie sportive (BIPS, 1928).
Beginning in 1890, Pierre de Coubertin worked actively on re-establishing the Olympic Games (OG). After a failure in 1892, he organised the International Athletics Congress in Paris, in 1894, after which the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was created and the OG re-established. For Coubertin, this represented the consecration of his huge education reform project. Indeed, he regarded the OG as the ultimate means of promoting sport, and sought – as he wrote in 1894 – “to make them able to better fulfil the educational role incumbent upon them in the modern world” (Coubertin, quoted in The Olympic Movement, IOC). The first modern OG were held in Athens in 1896. After these, Coubertin took over from Demetrius Vikelas as IOC President. He held this position until 1925, when he became Honorary President for life.
Throughout his life, Pierre de Coubertin wrote a great deal. His various publications are estimated to run to some 15,000 printed pages, without counting his personal correspondence. This large written output mainly concerns Olympism, sport and education, but also subjects as varied as history, geography, sociology, psychology or politics. It was Coubertin who produced the “founding” texts of modern Olympism, including the Olympic Charter, and numerous works like his Histoire Universelle published in 1926-1927 and his Olympic Memoirs, published in 1932.
A renowned humanist, Coubertin received several distinctions during his career. Among other things, he was a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1936 and received the Virginie Heriot Prize in the same year. On 22 June 1937, he was made an Honorary Citizen of Lausanne – the IOC headquarters since 1915 thanks to the Baron’s initiative. Thanks to the generosity of certain friends, this honour enabled Coubertin to overcome the financial worries affecting him at the end of his life, as he had spent his whole personal fortune on funding various projects linked to Olympism and education.
Pierre de Coubertin died on 2 September 1937, felled by a heart attack in the La Grange park in Geneva. He left behind his wife, Marie Rothan (1861-1963), whom he married on 12 March 1895, and his two children, Jacques (1896-1952) and Renée (1901-1968). In accordance with his final wishes, his body was buried at the Bois de Vaux cemetery in Lausanne, and his heart was placed in a marble stele commemorating the revival of the Olympic Games in Olympia (Greece).
Coubertin had a classical education at the Jesuit College of St Ignatius in Paris. In 1880, he passed his baccalaureate in literature. Although accepted by the Military School of Saint Cyr – like many sons of noble families at the time – he chose instead to study at the Law Faculty of the Political Sciences School. However, with little enthusiasm for a career in this field, he turned to education, which became a veritable passion. Thus it was that, in 1883, influenced by the work of French philosopher and historian Hippolyte Taine, and that of the Englishman Thomas Arnold (the Head of Rugby School), he went to England to compare the British and French education systems. After this trip, he began his life’s work, namely reforming the education system through sport. Convinced of the importance of including sport in the balanced education of a person, he then devoted himself to spreading this idea using all means available: lectures, publications, setting up sports or educational societies, etc. These included the Union des sociétés françaises de course à pied (1887), l’Association pour la réforme de l’enseignement (1906), the Olympic Museum and Library (1925), l’Union Pédagogique Universelle (UPU, 1925) and the Bureau international de pédagogie sportive (BIPS, 1928).
Beginning in 1890, Pierre de Coubertin worked actively on re-establishing the Olympic Games (OG). After a failure in 1892, he organised the International Athletics Congress in Paris, in 1894, after which the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was created and the OG re-established. For Coubertin, this represented the consecration of his huge education reform project. Indeed, he regarded the OG as the ultimate means of promoting sport, and sought – as he wrote in 1894 – “to make them able to better fulfil the educational role incumbent upon them in the modern world” (Coubertin, quoted in The Olympic Movement, IOC). The first modern OG were held in Athens in 1896. After these, Coubertin took over from Demetrius Vikelas as IOC President. He held this position until 1925, when he became Honorary President for life.
Throughout his life, Pierre de Coubertin wrote a great deal. His various publications are estimated to run to some 15,000 printed pages, without counting his personal correspondence. This large written output mainly concerns Olympism, sport and education, but also subjects as varied as history, geography, sociology, psychology or politics. It was Coubertin who produced the “founding” texts of modern Olympism, including the Olympic Charter, and numerous works like his Histoire Universelle published in 1926-1927 and his Olympic Memoirs, published in 1932.
A renowned humanist, Coubertin received several distinctions during his career. Among other things, he was a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1936 and received the Virginie Heriot Prize in the same year. On 22 June 1937, he was made an Honorary Citizen of Lausanne – the IOC headquarters since 1915 thanks to the Baron’s initiative. Thanks to the generosity of certain friends, this honour enabled Coubertin to overcome the financial worries affecting him at the end of his life, as he had spent his whole personal fortune on funding various projects linked to Olympism and education.
Pierre de Coubertin died on 2 September 1937, felled by a heart attack in the La Grange park in Geneva. He left behind his wife, Marie Rothan (1861-1963), whom he married on 12 March 1895, and his two children, Jacques (1896-1952) and Renée (1901-1968). In accordance with his final wishes, his body was buried at the Bois de Vaux cemetery in Lausanne, and his heart was placed in a marble stele commemorating the revival of the Olympic Games in Olympia (Greece).
Henri de Baillet-Latour
Count Henri de Baillet-Latour was born in Brussels, Belgium, on 1 March 1876. The eldest of three children, he was the son of Count Ferdinand de Baillet-Latour, former Governor of the Province of Antwerp, and Countess Caroline d’Oultremont de Duras.
After studies at the University of Louvain, he undertook several diplomatic missions abroad for King Leopold II, whom he had known since childhood. In 1903, the King tasked him with organising sport in Belgium. This new mission came at just the right time, as Baillet-Latour was co-opted as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Belgium that same year. In this connection, his first well-known contribution to Olympism was the successful organisation of the 3rd Olympic Congress in Brussels, in 1905. Between his election as an IOC member and the holding of this Congress, he married Countess Elisabeth de Clary on 14 July 1904. The couple had two children: Guy and Sophie.
Baillet-Latour took part again in the Olympic adventure when he helped to found the Belgian National Olympic Committee in 1906. One of the tasks of this body was to organise Belgium’s representation at the Olympic Games (OG). As such, on two occasions Baillet-Latour found himself acting as Chef de mission for the Belgian team, coordinating his country’s participation in the Games in London (1908), then Stockholm (1912).
The first OG organised after the Great War were in Antwerp, in 1920. Baillet-Latour had the delicate task of planning these Games, as Chairman of the Executive Committee for the VII Olympiad. Despite the political sensitivities resulting from the conflict, the short time available and the meagre budget available to him, he rose to the challenge skilfully and made the Games a success. His leadership, diplomacy and organisational talents were clear to see.
At the Prague Congress in 1925, taking advantage of his reputation acquired from the Antwerp Games, Baillet-Latour was elected for a first eight-year term as IOC President, as the successor to Baron Pierre de Coubertin. He was re-elected for a second term at the 1933 Session in Vienna, and remained President until his death in 1942. His presidency was marked chiefly by the issue of amateurism, discussions over recognising the International Federations (IFs) and the Second World War, which among other things forced the cancellation of the Games in 1940. In addition, being more pragmatic than Coubertin, Baillet-Latour was concerned mainly with the more technical aspects of Olympism. Among other things, he ensured that the IOC’s rules, and the decisions taken at the congresses, were respected when the Games were organised.
The third IOC President died in Brussels on the night of 6 January 1942, a few months after the accidental death of his son on a mission with the Free Belgian Forces.
After studies at the University of Louvain, he undertook several diplomatic missions abroad for King Leopold II, whom he had known since childhood. In 1903, the King tasked him with organising sport in Belgium. This new mission came at just the right time, as Baillet-Latour was co-opted as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Belgium that same year. In this connection, his first well-known contribution to Olympism was the successful organisation of the 3rd Olympic Congress in Brussels, in 1905. Between his election as an IOC member and the holding of this Congress, he married Countess Elisabeth de Clary on 14 July 1904. The couple had two children: Guy and Sophie.
Baillet-Latour took part again in the Olympic adventure when he helped to found the Belgian National Olympic Committee in 1906. One of the tasks of this body was to organise Belgium’s representation at the Olympic Games (OG). As such, on two occasions Baillet-Latour found himself acting as Chef de mission for the Belgian team, coordinating his country’s participation in the Games in London (1908), then Stockholm (1912).
The first OG organised after the Great War were in Antwerp, in 1920. Baillet-Latour had the delicate task of planning these Games, as Chairman of the Executive Committee for the VII Olympiad. Despite the political sensitivities resulting from the conflict, the short time available and the meagre budget available to him, he rose to the challenge skilfully and made the Games a success. His leadership, diplomacy and organisational talents were clear to see.
At the Prague Congress in 1925, taking advantage of his reputation acquired from the Antwerp Games, Baillet-Latour was elected for a first eight-year term as IOC President, as the successor to Baron Pierre de Coubertin. He was re-elected for a second term at the 1933 Session in Vienna, and remained President until his death in 1942. His presidency was marked chiefly by the issue of amateurism, discussions over recognising the International Federations (IFs) and the Second World War, which among other things forced the cancellation of the Games in 1940. In addition, being more pragmatic than Coubertin, Baillet-Latour was concerned mainly with the more technical aspects of Olympism. Among other things, he ensured that the IOC’s rules, and the decisions taken at the congresses, were respected when the Games were organised.
The third IOC President died in Brussels on the night of 6 January 1942, a few months after the accidental death of his son on a mission with the Free Belgian Forces.
J. Sigfrid Edström
J. Sigfrid Edström was born on 21 November 1870 in Morlanda, a village in western Sweden. After engineering studies at the Chalmer Technical University in Gothenburg (Sweden), he moved to Switzerland to continue his training at the Zurich Polytechnicum. At this time, he became interested in sport. Throughout his studies, he practised athletics and rowing. In 1891, he even beat the Swedish 150 metres record, with a time of 16.4 seconds.
After obtaining his engineering degree, Edström left Europe for the USA, where he was employed by the Westinghouse Electrical Manufacturing Co. in Pittsburgh. Here, too, he continued his sports activities, joining the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. In 1896, he left the Pittsburgh Company to go and work for the General Electric Co. of New York. After that, he returned to Switzerland, where the city of Zurich employed him to work on building trams.
In 1899, he married Ruth Miriam Randall (1867-1944), an American from Chicago. They had four children: Miriam, Björn, Janesie and Lenore. A year after his wedding, Edström became Director of the Gothenburg Municipal Tramways, a post he held until 1903 when he was appointed Director of ASEA, a large Swedish electrotechnical company. He held this post until 1933, when he became Chairman of the Board.
Parallel to his work in industry, Edström was actively involved in the Swedish sports movement, but also internationally, becoming one of the most influential sportsmen of his time. Among other things, he became Chairman of the Swedish Amateur Athletic Association in 1901, and also chaired the Swedish Sport and Gymnastics Association until 1940. He was also the co-founder of the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) in 1913, as served as its President until 1946.
Edström contributed to the Olympic Movement in 1908, when he was named Chef de mission of the Swedish team at the Olympic Games in London. He held this position again at the Games in 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932 and 1936, as well as playing a major role in the organisation of the Games in Stockholm (1912). In 1920, Edström was co-opted as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Sweden, after a postal vote. The following year, he was elected on to the IOC Executive Committee, and was elected Vice-President a decade later, in 1931. He held this position until being officially named IOC President in September 1946. His predecessor, Henri de Baillet-Latour, died in 1942, and Edström had served as acting President during the final years of the Second World War. Even if the IOC’s activities were disrupted by the conflict – the Games in 1944 were cancelled, for example - Edström performed this difficult task with considerable aplomb.Taking advantage of his native country’s neutrality during the War, he succeeded among other things in maintaining contact between the various IOC members. Then, after the conflict, he quickly convened the Executive Board, which awarded the first post-war OG to London, in 1948.
After officially becoming IOC President at the 1946 Session in Lausanne, Edström continued throughout his term of office to show the leadership and efficiency which had characterised his acting presidency. His diplomacy was, moreover, required on several occasions for managing the IOC’s activities in the delicate post-war context and then during the Cold War. Among other things, he had to take the sensitive decision to exclude Japan and Germany from the Games in 1948 and work to strengthen the ties of Olympism with the USSR.
At the age of 82, Edström retired as IOC President in 1952. The same year, he was appointed IOC Honorary President by acclamation. He died in Stockholm on 18 March 1964.
After obtaining his engineering degree, Edström left Europe for the USA, where he was employed by the Westinghouse Electrical Manufacturing Co. in Pittsburgh. Here, too, he continued his sports activities, joining the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. In 1896, he left the Pittsburgh Company to go and work for the General Electric Co. of New York. After that, he returned to Switzerland, where the city of Zurich employed him to work on building trams.
In 1899, he married Ruth Miriam Randall (1867-1944), an American from Chicago. They had four children: Miriam, Björn, Janesie and Lenore. A year after his wedding, Edström became Director of the Gothenburg Municipal Tramways, a post he held until 1903 when he was appointed Director of ASEA, a large Swedish electrotechnical company. He held this post until 1933, when he became Chairman of the Board.
Parallel to his work in industry, Edström was actively involved in the Swedish sports movement, but also internationally, becoming one of the most influential sportsmen of his time. Among other things, he became Chairman of the Swedish Amateur Athletic Association in 1901, and also chaired the Swedish Sport and Gymnastics Association until 1940. He was also the co-founder of the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) in 1913, as served as its President until 1946.
Edström contributed to the Olympic Movement in 1908, when he was named Chef de mission of the Swedish team at the Olympic Games in London. He held this position again at the Games in 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932 and 1936, as well as playing a major role in the organisation of the Games in Stockholm (1912). In 1920, Edström was co-opted as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Sweden, after a postal vote. The following year, he was elected on to the IOC Executive Committee, and was elected Vice-President a decade later, in 1931. He held this position until being officially named IOC President in September 1946. His predecessor, Henri de Baillet-Latour, died in 1942, and Edström had served as acting President during the final years of the Second World War. Even if the IOC’s activities were disrupted by the conflict – the Games in 1944 were cancelled, for example - Edström performed this difficult task with considerable aplomb.Taking advantage of his native country’s neutrality during the War, he succeeded among other things in maintaining contact between the various IOC members. Then, after the conflict, he quickly convened the Executive Board, which awarded the first post-war OG to London, in 1948.
After officially becoming IOC President at the 1946 Session in Lausanne, Edström continued throughout his term of office to show the leadership and efficiency which had characterised his acting presidency. His diplomacy was, moreover, required on several occasions for managing the IOC’s activities in the delicate post-war context and then during the Cold War. Among other things, he had to take the sensitive decision to exclude Japan and Germany from the Games in 1948 and work to strengthen the ties of Olympism with the USSR.
At the age of 82, Edström retired as IOC President in 1952. The same year, he was appointed IOC Honorary President by acclamation. He died in Stockholm on 18 March 1964.
Avery Brundage
Avery Brundage was born in 1887 in Detroit, Michigan (USA). He came from a modest family, of which the father, Charles Brundage, was a stonemason. His secondary education took place at the Crane Manual Training School in Chicago. He then went on to the University of Illinois, where he obtained a diploma in civil engineering in 1909.
As well as being an outstanding student, Brundage was also an accomplished athlete. A follower of athletics, he practised several sports throughout his studies and alongside his various professional activities. In 1912, his passion for athletics led him to the Olympic Games (OG) in Stockholm, where he represented the United States in the pentathlon and decathlon events, finishing in sixth and 16th place respectively. Furthermore, two years later, he obtained the title of American national champion in “all-around”, a discipline similar to decathlon, but where the events take place on a single day. He went on to win this competition twice again, in 1916 and 1918. The fame he gained through this throughout the American sports world was not unconnected to his later involvement in the Olympic Movement.
Brundage added professional success to his sporting success. In 1915, after having worked for two architect firms, he founded his own company specialising in construction, Avery Brundage Company Builders. Profiting from the post-war building boom, this company enabled him to accumulate a lot of capital. He continued his activities at the helm of this company until 1947. In 1927, he married Elisabeth Dunlap, a musician from Chicago.
In the 1920s, Brundage held numerous administrative positions within the American and international sports movement. Besides participating in the administration of numerous sports associations, he was, among others, President of the American Amateur Athletics Union from 1928 to 1934. He was also President of the US Olympic Committee between 1929 and 1953, and, in 1930, he was appointed Vice-President of the International Amateur Athletics Federation, which was then led by J. Sigfrid Edström. As from 1940, he also presided over the organisation of the Pan-American Games.
Brundage made his official entry into the Olympic Movement in 1936, when he was elected as an IOC member in the United States. A decade later, he succeeded Edström as Vice-President of the organisation when the latter became President. When, in 1952, Edström retired from this position, Brundage once again succeeded him, being officially appointed fifth IOC President. He occupied this function until he stood down in 1972, after which he was appointed IOC Honorary President for Life.
Brundage’s route to the presidency of the IOC was marked by several controversies, during which he sometimes had to support difficult decisions. This was the case regarding the contentious issue of the participation in the Olympic Games by the Chinese, German and Korean teams in the stormy context of their internal political conflicts. It was also the case regarding his decision to continue with the Olympic Games after the terrorist attacks on 5 September 1972 at the Munich Olympic Games. Several people criticised Brundage for being somewhat intransigent in his positions and in his way of leading the IOC during these crises. However, everyone agrees that he was always faithful to his convictions and to defending the two major Olympic ideals, i.e. amateurism and the non-politicisation of sport.
As the author of several articles on amateur sport and the Olympic Movement, Brundage also accumulated several distinctions during his career. He died on 8 May 1975 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, but he was buried in Chicago. He bequeathed an impressive collection of Asian art to the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco in the 1960s.
As well as being an outstanding student, Brundage was also an accomplished athlete. A follower of athletics, he practised several sports throughout his studies and alongside his various professional activities. In 1912, his passion for athletics led him to the Olympic Games (OG) in Stockholm, where he represented the United States in the pentathlon and decathlon events, finishing in sixth and 16th place respectively. Furthermore, two years later, he obtained the title of American national champion in “all-around”, a discipline similar to decathlon, but where the events take place on a single day. He went on to win this competition twice again, in 1916 and 1918. The fame he gained through this throughout the American sports world was not unconnected to his later involvement in the Olympic Movement.
Brundage added professional success to his sporting success. In 1915, after having worked for two architect firms, he founded his own company specialising in construction, Avery Brundage Company Builders. Profiting from the post-war building boom, this company enabled him to accumulate a lot of capital. He continued his activities at the helm of this company until 1947. In 1927, he married Elisabeth Dunlap, a musician from Chicago.
In the 1920s, Brundage held numerous administrative positions within the American and international sports movement. Besides participating in the administration of numerous sports associations, he was, among others, President of the American Amateur Athletics Union from 1928 to 1934. He was also President of the US Olympic Committee between 1929 and 1953, and, in 1930, he was appointed Vice-President of the International Amateur Athletics Federation, which was then led by J. Sigfrid Edström. As from 1940, he also presided over the organisation of the Pan-American Games.
Brundage made his official entry into the Olympic Movement in 1936, when he was elected as an IOC member in the United States. A decade later, he succeeded Edström as Vice-President of the organisation when the latter became President. When, in 1952, Edström retired from this position, Brundage once again succeeded him, being officially appointed fifth IOC President. He occupied this function until he stood down in 1972, after which he was appointed IOC Honorary President for Life.
Brundage’s route to the presidency of the IOC was marked by several controversies, during which he sometimes had to support difficult decisions. This was the case regarding the contentious issue of the participation in the Olympic Games by the Chinese, German and Korean teams in the stormy context of their internal political conflicts. It was also the case regarding his decision to continue with the Olympic Games after the terrorist attacks on 5 September 1972 at the Munich Olympic Games. Several people criticised Brundage for being somewhat intransigent in his positions and in his way of leading the IOC during these crises. However, everyone agrees that he was always faithful to his convictions and to defending the two major Olympic ideals, i.e. amateurism and the non-politicisation of sport.
As the author of several articles on amateur sport and the Olympic Movement, Brundage also accumulated several distinctions during his career. He died on 8 May 1975 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, but he was buried in Chicago. He bequeathed an impressive collection of Asian art to the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco in the 1960s.
Michael Morris-Killanin
Michael Morris, alias Lord Killanin, was born in London on 30 July 1914, just a few days after the start of the First World War. His mother, Dora Wesley Hall, was of Australian origin, and his father, George Morris, was Irish. He had died at the front during the Great War, after which his widow married Colonel Gerard Tharp. With his wealthy background, Tharp enabled Killanin’s family to live comfortably, as well as providing the children with a good education. Killanin was thus educated in history and the arts at the best schools. He first went to the famous Eton College, and then the equally well-known Sorbonne in Paris, and finally Magdalene College, Cambridge.
In 1927, when his uncle died, Michael Morris took the title of Lord Killanin, the name by which he was generally known from then onwards. His grandfather had first obtained the title of Baron Killanin, and Morris was the third to inherit this title, as well as the family estate in Spiddal, County Galway, Ireland, where he would spend a large part of his youth.
With his studies finished in 1935, Killanin started a career in journalism. In 1935, he worked at the Daily Express in London, and one year later at the Daily Mail. He then became head of the Sunday Dispatch’s political and diplomatic page, and was a war correspondent in China between 1937 and 1938. A keen sportsman, he also practised boxing, rowing, rugby and equestrian sports.
In 1939, Killanin interrupted his journalistic activities and became a volunteer in the British army. He took part in the Normandy landing as Brigade Major, earning him the Order of the British Empire. As soon as he was demobilised, in 1945, he married Sheila Mary Dunlop, who would give him three sons and a daughter: Redmond, Michael, John and Deborah.
After the Second World War, Killanin’s career path was varied, including culture, sport and business. He occupied several administrative functions over the years, in management roles or on the boards of several Irish businesses, including Irish Shell Co., specialising in import and export. He also chaired several cultural or sports societies, such as the Irish Club. Furthermore, in the 1950s, he participated in the production of several films, notably The Rising of the Moon (1957), Gideon's Day (1958), Young Cassidy (1965) and Alfred the Great (1969). Finally, he penned some works, including the Shell Guide to Ireland, Four Days - a publication summarising the Munich crisis in 1938 -, a biography of the painter Sir Godfrey Kneller, and, later, an autobiography entitled My Olympic Years.
In 1950, Killanin was appointed President of the Irish Olympic Committee, a position he held until 1973. This appointment marked his official entry into the Olympic Movement. Two years later, he was elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Ireland. The difficult political situation in this country enabled him to develop his sense of diplomacy and his great ability as a mediator, as he tried to represent Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic within a single body. These two qualities were often needed later, mainly when he became IOC President in 1972, just after the official closing of the controversial Munich Olympic Games (OG).
Killanin remained as head of the IOC for eight years, during which he had to manage a number of difficult situations. He presided over the IOC during a stormy period for Olympism, which had to address several crises linked to international politics, as well as contemporary issues such as the commercialisation and professionalisation of sport or the increase in doping cases among athletes. Among these issues, there was the boycott of the 1976 OG by the African countries. These Games also had various organisational problems. We should also mention the sudden withdrawal of Denver’s candidature for the 1976 Winter Games, which caused logistical difficulties for the IOC. Finally, there was the massive boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games, with the United States leading this movement.
Everyone agrees that Killanin did, however, manage to lead the IOC through this tumultuous period, and that the running of the organisation was consolidated by the end of his presidency, notably on a financial level. After a fashion, the Killanin era thus enabled the IOC to ensure its durability.
Killanin retired as IOC President in 1980, but became Honorary President until his death on 25 April 1999.
In 1927, when his uncle died, Michael Morris took the title of Lord Killanin, the name by which he was generally known from then onwards. His grandfather had first obtained the title of Baron Killanin, and Morris was the third to inherit this title, as well as the family estate in Spiddal, County Galway, Ireland, where he would spend a large part of his youth.
With his studies finished in 1935, Killanin started a career in journalism. In 1935, he worked at the Daily Express in London, and one year later at the Daily Mail. He then became head of the Sunday Dispatch’s political and diplomatic page, and was a war correspondent in China between 1937 and 1938. A keen sportsman, he also practised boxing, rowing, rugby and equestrian sports.
In 1939, Killanin interrupted his journalistic activities and became a volunteer in the British army. He took part in the Normandy landing as Brigade Major, earning him the Order of the British Empire. As soon as he was demobilised, in 1945, he married Sheila Mary Dunlop, who would give him three sons and a daughter: Redmond, Michael, John and Deborah.
After the Second World War, Killanin’s career path was varied, including culture, sport and business. He occupied several administrative functions over the years, in management roles or on the boards of several Irish businesses, including Irish Shell Co., specialising in import and export. He also chaired several cultural or sports societies, such as the Irish Club. Furthermore, in the 1950s, he participated in the production of several films, notably The Rising of the Moon (1957), Gideon's Day (1958), Young Cassidy (1965) and Alfred the Great (1969). Finally, he penned some works, including the Shell Guide to Ireland, Four Days - a publication summarising the Munich crisis in 1938 -, a biography of the painter Sir Godfrey Kneller, and, later, an autobiography entitled My Olympic Years.
In 1950, Killanin was appointed President of the Irish Olympic Committee, a position he held until 1973. This appointment marked his official entry into the Olympic Movement. Two years later, he was elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Ireland. The difficult political situation in this country enabled him to develop his sense of diplomacy and his great ability as a mediator, as he tried to represent Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic within a single body. These two qualities were often needed later, mainly when he became IOC President in 1972, just after the official closing of the controversial Munich Olympic Games (OG).
Killanin remained as head of the IOC for eight years, during which he had to manage a number of difficult situations. He presided over the IOC during a stormy period for Olympism, which had to address several crises linked to international politics, as well as contemporary issues such as the commercialisation and professionalisation of sport or the increase in doping cases among athletes. Among these issues, there was the boycott of the 1976 OG by the African countries. These Games also had various organisational problems. We should also mention the sudden withdrawal of Denver’s candidature for the 1976 Winter Games, which caused logistical difficulties for the IOC. Finally, there was the massive boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games, with the United States leading this movement.
Everyone agrees that Killanin did, however, manage to lead the IOC through this tumultuous period, and that the running of the organisation was consolidated by the end of his presidency, notably on a financial level. After a fashion, the Killanin era thus enabled the IOC to ensure its durability.
Killanin retired as IOC President in 1980, but became Honorary President until his death on 25 April 1999.
Juan Antonio Samaranch
Juan Antonio Samaranch was born on 17 July 1920 in Barcelona. He was the third of six children in a family from the Catalan rich bourgeoisie. On 1 December 1955, he married Maria Teresa Salisachs Rowe. Two children were born from this union: Juan Antonio Junior, currently a member of the International Olympic Committee, and Maria Teresa. In 1991 he received the title of Marqués from the King of Spain for his involvement in the Olympic Movement.
He did his studies at the Business School of Barcelona, which he completed in London and the USA. He obtained a diploma from the Barcelona Higher Institute of Business Studies (IESE). During his studies, he practised roller hockey, for which he created World Championships in 1951 and which the Spanish team won.
While still playing a part in managing the family business, in 1954 he became a city councillor for the City of Barcelona responsible for sport, then Delegate for Physical Education and Sport in the Spanish Parliament in 1967. Appointed President of the “Diputación” (provincial council) of Barcelona in 1973, he resigned four years later, in 1977, when he was appointed Spanish Ambassador to the Soviet Union and Mongolia after the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
At the same time, he had an active career within the Olympic Movement. He was elected Vice-President of the International Mediterranean Games Committee for the second edition of the Games in Barcelona in 1955. On several occasion he was appointed Chef de Mission: for the Winter Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo (1956) and the Summer Games in Rome (1960) and Tokyo (1964). For these last two Games, he was also President of the Spanish delegation. Elected a member of the Spanish Olympic Committee in 1956, he became its President in 1967 until 1970. He was elected as an IOC member in 1966. Two years later, Avery Brundage appointed him Head of Protocol (1968-1975 and 1979-1980). A member of the Executive Board (1970-1978, 1979-1980), he was IOC Vice-President from 1974 to 1978. Elected to the IOC presidency in the first round of voting on 16 July 1980 at the 83rd Session, he succeeded Lord Killanin on 3 August that year.
Juan Antonio Samaranch endeavoured to breathe new life into the Olympic Movement. He acceded to the IOC presidency during the troubled political period of the Games of the XXII Olympiad in Moscow. Above all, he sought to give back unity to the Olympic family by defending its cause on his numerous trips and meetings with heads of state and sports leaders. In 1981, he obtained for the IOC the status of non-governmental international organisation and became the first IOC President, after Pierre de Coubertin, to establish himself in Lausanne. He was also in favour of the feminisation of the Olympic Movement, and during the Baden-Baden Congress gained permission for women to become members of the IOC. At his instigation, the IOC became involved in various initiatives to promote women and sport.
Among his accomplishments are his many activities to promote peace through the Olympic Movement. He managed to include both the NOC of the People’s Republic of China and that of Chinese Taipei; with the assistance of Kéba Mbaye, he contributed to the abolition of apartheid in South Africa and the reintegration of the country in Olympic competitions; he visited Sarajevo during the civil war to express Olympic solidarity; and, thanks to his determination, the two Koreas marched under the same flag at the Opening Ceremony in Sydney.
For sport, he intensified the IOC’s support to organise Paralympic Games as from the Winter Games in Sarajevo in 1984. He also made doping a priority issue by launching vast research and control programmes. The creation of the World Anti-Doping Agency in 1999 allowed the IOC Medical Commission to extend its scope of action. One of the major transformations of the Olympic Movement is undoubtedly the end of amateurism, and professionals’ access to Olympic competitions, in accordance with the vision that Juan Antonio Samaranch gave to the athlete. Finally, it was under his presidency that the Summer and Winter Games were organised every two years, instead of in the same year, still respecting the gap of four years.
Among the reforms to the running of the IOC, he imposed a new financial policy which allowed for the increase in revenues and the diversification of resources. Thanks to a large share of the revenues generated by agreements with TV channels, he restructured Olympic Solidarity in 1981 and provided assistance to National Olympic Committees in difficulty, and developed action plans to contribute to the universality of the Games. Finally, confronted with an IOC crisis in December 1998, created through the abuse of trust of some members following the vote for Salt Lake City as host of the 2002 Winter Games, he reformed the structure of the organisation after an enquiry and sanctions against the members concerned.
On 23 June 1993, the inauguration of the Olympic Museum, representing the memory and spirit of modern Olympism, the work of his career, crowned his presidency.
On 16 July 2001, he left the seat of the IOC presidency to Jacques Rogge and became Honorary President for Life.
He died on the 21st of April 2010 at the age of 89, in Barcelona.
He did his studies at the Business School of Barcelona, which he completed in London and the USA. He obtained a diploma from the Barcelona Higher Institute of Business Studies (IESE). During his studies, he practised roller hockey, for which he created World Championships in 1951 and which the Spanish team won.
While still playing a part in managing the family business, in 1954 he became a city councillor for the City of Barcelona responsible for sport, then Delegate for Physical Education and Sport in the Spanish Parliament in 1967. Appointed President of the “Diputación” (provincial council) of Barcelona in 1973, he resigned four years later, in 1977, when he was appointed Spanish Ambassador to the Soviet Union and Mongolia after the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
At the same time, he had an active career within the Olympic Movement. He was elected Vice-President of the International Mediterranean Games Committee for the second edition of the Games in Barcelona in 1955. On several occasion he was appointed Chef de Mission: for the Winter Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo (1956) and the Summer Games in Rome (1960) and Tokyo (1964). For these last two Games, he was also President of the Spanish delegation. Elected a member of the Spanish Olympic Committee in 1956, he became its President in 1967 until 1970. He was elected as an IOC member in 1966. Two years later, Avery Brundage appointed him Head of Protocol (1968-1975 and 1979-1980). A member of the Executive Board (1970-1978, 1979-1980), he was IOC Vice-President from 1974 to 1978. Elected to the IOC presidency in the first round of voting on 16 July 1980 at the 83rd Session, he succeeded Lord Killanin on 3 August that year.
Juan Antonio Samaranch endeavoured to breathe new life into the Olympic Movement. He acceded to the IOC presidency during the troubled political period of the Games of the XXII Olympiad in Moscow. Above all, he sought to give back unity to the Olympic family by defending its cause on his numerous trips and meetings with heads of state and sports leaders. In 1981, he obtained for the IOC the status of non-governmental international organisation and became the first IOC President, after Pierre de Coubertin, to establish himself in Lausanne. He was also in favour of the feminisation of the Olympic Movement, and during the Baden-Baden Congress gained permission for women to become members of the IOC. At his instigation, the IOC became involved in various initiatives to promote women and sport.
Among his accomplishments are his many activities to promote peace through the Olympic Movement. He managed to include both the NOC of the People’s Republic of China and that of Chinese Taipei; with the assistance of Kéba Mbaye, he contributed to the abolition of apartheid in South Africa and the reintegration of the country in Olympic competitions; he visited Sarajevo during the civil war to express Olympic solidarity; and, thanks to his determination, the two Koreas marched under the same flag at the Opening Ceremony in Sydney.
For sport, he intensified the IOC’s support to organise Paralympic Games as from the Winter Games in Sarajevo in 1984. He also made doping a priority issue by launching vast research and control programmes. The creation of the World Anti-Doping Agency in 1999 allowed the IOC Medical Commission to extend its scope of action. One of the major transformations of the Olympic Movement is undoubtedly the end of amateurism, and professionals’ access to Olympic competitions, in accordance with the vision that Juan Antonio Samaranch gave to the athlete. Finally, it was under his presidency that the Summer and Winter Games were organised every two years, instead of in the same year, still respecting the gap of four years.
Among the reforms to the running of the IOC, he imposed a new financial policy which allowed for the increase in revenues and the diversification of resources. Thanks to a large share of the revenues generated by agreements with TV channels, he restructured Olympic Solidarity in 1981 and provided assistance to National Olympic Committees in difficulty, and developed action plans to contribute to the universality of the Games. Finally, confronted with an IOC crisis in December 1998, created through the abuse of trust of some members following the vote for Salt Lake City as host of the 2002 Winter Games, he reformed the structure of the organisation after an enquiry and sanctions against the members concerned.
On 23 June 1993, the inauguration of the Olympic Museum, representing the memory and spirit of modern Olympism, the work of his career, crowned his presidency.
On 16 July 2001, he left the seat of the IOC presidency to Jacques Rogge and became Honorary President for Life.
He died on the 21st of April 2010 at the age of 89, in Barcelona.
Jacques Rogge
Born on 2 May 1942 in Ghent, Belgium, Jacques Rogge is married and has two children. By profession, he is an orthopaedic surgeon. In the course of his sports career, he competed in the yachting competitions at the Games of the Olympiad in Mexico in 1968, Munich in 1972 and Montreal in 1976. He was also a member of the Belgian national rugby team. Jacques Rogge served as President of the Belgian National Olympic Committee from 1989 to 1992. He became President of the European Olympic Committees in 1989, IOC member in 1991 and Executive Board member in 1998. Jacques Rogge was the eighth IOC President, elected on 16 July 2001 at the 112th IOC Session in Moscow.
The appointment of Jacques Rogge as the new president of the International Olympic Committee has come as no surprise. The mild-mannered Belgian was considered favourite to succeed Juan Antonio Samaranch once it was announced that Spaniard would step down. Unlike his fellow candidates, Rogge has not courted controversy. He came out with a clean slate following the Salt Lake City scandal that saw 10 members of the IOC resign.Coupled with his diplomatic skills and the ability to fluently speak five languages - Flemish, French, English, Spanish and German - made the final decision easy for the voting members of the Committee. Rogge has been an integral part of the Olympic movement for over 10 years.
But his involvement with the Games began back in 1968 when he put his nautical skils to the test by taking part in the sailing events. He competed in the following two Olympics and such was his dominance in the sport that he became world champion. Rogge also showed his prowess with the rugby ball by winning 10 caps for the Belgian national team.
The 59-year-old former orthopaedic surgeon moved on to the administration side of the Olympics in 1989 when he took on the role as president of the European Olympic Committees. Two years later Rogge moved up a level and became an official member of the International Olympic Committee.
He came to prominance during the 2000 Sydney Games where as chief co-ordinator, he helped mastermind what former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch described as "the best Games ever". Rogge was due to reprise his Sydney role for the forthcoming Games in Athens, but now faces the greater challenge of guiding the Olympic movement to new heights in the future.
Thomas Bach
Thomas Bach was born on 29 December 1953 in Würzburg, Germany. Married and a lawyer by profession, he has had a successful career in sports both on and off the field of play. He became an Olympic champion when he won a gold medal in fencing (team foil) at the Games of the XXI Olympiad in Montreal in 1976 and in 2006, he was named as the founding President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB).
Thomas Bach was an athletes’ representative at the XI Olympic Congress in Baden-Baden (1981) and a founding member of the IOC’s Athletes’ Commission. He became an IOC member in 1991, was elected as a member of the IOC Executive Board in 1996 and served as an IOC Vice-President for more than 10 years. He has also chaired several IOC Commissions.
On 10 September 2013, Thomas Bach was elected as the ninth President of the IOC.
Thomas Bach was an athletes’ representative at the XI Olympic Congress in Baden-Baden (1981) and a founding member of the IOC’s Athletes’ Commission. He became an IOC member in 1991, was elected as a member of the IOC Executive Board in 1996 and served as an IOC Vice-President for more than 10 years. He has also chaired several IOC Commissions.
On 10 September 2013, Thomas Bach was elected as the ninth President of the IOC.