The International Olympic Committee, Law, and Accountability

This book examines the accountability of those involved in the Olympic Games, focusing on the legitimacy and accountability of the International Olympic Committee (‘IOC’).

This non-governmental organisation wields extraordinary authority over sport yet it has no democratic basis for its authority. This book questions the sources of the IOC’s legitimacy and its authority, arguing that there is an accountability deficit. This is the first book to examine the conduct of the Olympic Games from an international legal perspective. It moves beyond being a mere critique of the IOC and the Olympic Games, and focuses on potential avenues for reform, arguing that the IOC and those who organise the Olympic Games must be more accountable to citizens and those that are harmed by the Olympic Games.

The Olympic Games is unquestionably the largest and most important sporting event in the world. Yet who exactly is accountable for its successes and failures? This book examines the legitimacy and accountability of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This non-governmental organisation wields extraordinary power, but there is no democratic basis for its authority. This study questions the supremacy of the IOC, arguing that there is a significant accountability deficit.

Investigating the conduct of the IOC from an international legal perspective, the book moves beyond a critique of the IOC to explore potential avenues for reform, means of improving democratic procedures and increasing accountability. If the Olympics are to continue to be our most celebrated sporting event, those who organise them must be answerable to the citizens that they can potentially harm as well as benefit.

Full of original insights into the inner workings of the IOC, this book is essential reading for all those interested in the Olympics, sport policy, sport management, sport mega-events, and the law.