Olympic Committee, National Noc

a national organization representing a country, large region, or territory in the international Olympic movement.

A national Olympic committee promotes the development of the Olympic movement and amateur sports, makes sure the Olympic principles are observed within its territory, and selects athletes to participate in the Olympic Games. The formation of a national Olympic committee and the committee’s recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are necessary before a national team may compete in the Olympic Games. A national Olympic committee must bring together at least five national federations of sports that are included in the program of the Olympic Games, and these federations must be members of their respective international sports associations.

The Olympic Rules provide for the organization of a national Olympic committee not only in countries but also in separate territories (regions). In accordance with the rules of the IOC, membership in a national Olympic committee may be extended to members of the IOC, heads of national federations for Olympic sports, members of international sports associations, and major sports figures. A national Olympic committee has the right to use the Olympic flag and the Olympic emblem. The executive board of the IOC meets periodically with the representatives of national Olympic committees, and independent national Olympic committee meetings have been held since 1965.

The National Olympic Committee of the USSR was organized in 1951 and was recognized by the IOC in the same year. Its tasks are to coordinate the activities of the sports federations of the USSR in the international sports associations, to promote Olympic ideas in the development of physical culture and sports, and to strengthen international sports. As of Nov. 1, 1977, the IOC had recognized 134 national Olympic committees.