Olympic Solidarity is the body responsible for managing and administering the share of the television rights of the Olympic Games that is allocated to the National Olympic Committees (NOCs). It exercises this responsibility in accordance with the specific programmes of technical and financial assistance approved by the Olympic Solidarity Commission. It assists the NOCs and the Continental Associations with their efforts for the development of sport through programmes carefully devised to match their specific needs and priorities.
"The aim of Olympic Solidarity is to organise assistance to NOCs, in particular those which have the greatest need of it. This assistance takes the form of programmes elaborated jointly by the IOC and the NOCs, with the technical assistance of the IFs, if necessary." Rule 5, Olympic Charter
Olympic Solidarity (founded in 1961) reflects the Olympic ethic of which the basic notions are generosity, understanding and international co-operation, cultural exchanges, the development of sport and its educational aspects and the promotion of a society concerned with human dignity and peace.
Meeting today in Kuwait City, the Olympic Solidarity Commission reviewed the results of the continental and world programmes implemented in 2006.
Key 2006 figures
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In 1960, decolonisation was in progress around the world, and with it, international aid was given by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to developing countries through what would later become Olympic Solidarity.
Funding for Olympic Solidarity and its programmes is derived from a share of the television rights for the broadcast of the Olympic Games. Intended for the National Olympic Committees (NOCs), this share has always been Olympic Solidarity’s only income.
The initiatives carried out by the NOCs in recent years demonstrate the extent and diversity of needs, the variety of activities and the priorities and different levels of development linked to the specific nature of each NOC. This constant process of change which, although global, is not always identical, means that Olympic Solidarity regularly needs to adapt its activities so that the NOCs can benefit from programmes that meet their expectations and needs.
With only minor changes compared to the previous quadrennial plan and designed for the most part to increase support for athletes and strengthen NOC structures, the world programmes provide the NOCs with access to technical, financial and administrative assistance for the organisation of specific activities linked to sports development.
This financial assistance has two quite different yet complementary aims: to help foster the universal spirit of the Olympic Games by guaranteeing the participation of all NOCs and to give additional support to NOCs which contribute proportionally to the development and success of the Games.
