Olympic Charter to be amended to clarify definition and composition of Olympic emblems

10 December 2025 – The IOC Executive Board today approved a proposal to submit to the 145th IOC Session amendments to the Olympic Charter intended to clarify the definition and design standards for the creation of Olympic emblems, thereby strengthening the protection of the Olympic brand. The proposal is based on a recommendation by the IOC Legal Affairs Commission.

In addition to amendments relating to Olympic emblems, the Legal Affairs Commission also proposed some additional modifications intended to reflect changes within the IOC and the wider Olympic Movement.

The proposed amendments to the Charter are to:

• Ensure consistency and clarity in the use of abbreviations, reflecting the official name changes of organisations within the Olympic Movement (abbreviations used within the Olympic Movement).
   

• Clarify the definition of an Olympic emblem by specifying that, beyond the Olympic symbol, it includes a written component and, if so decided, a distinctive graphic element, ensuring alignment with current design practices and usage (Rule 11).
   

• Update the design standards for Olympic emblems created by OCOGs, ensuring alignment with the new future-proof emblem system model, while enhancing the visibility of the Olympic symbol and the Olympic event designations (Olympic Games™/Olympic Winter Games™, Youth Olympic Games™, Olympic Esports Games™, etc.), thereby reinforcing their trademark protection. This section should be applicable to all Olympic events by analogy (Bye-law to Rules 7-14).
   

• Reflect the change of name of the IOC Medical and Scientific Commission to IOC Health, Medicine and Science Commission (Bye-law to Rule 21.7).
   

• Clarify the status of Olympic mascots as an Olympic property and not an Olympic emblem (Bye-law to Rule 50.2).
   

These proposed changes to the Olympic Charter will be put to a vote by the 145^th IOC Session in February 2026 in Milan, Italy.

The Olympic Charter was first published in 1908, under the title of “Annuaire du Comité International Olympique”. It is the codification of the fundamental principles of Olympism, and the rules and bye-laws adopted by the IOC. It serves as the statutes of the organisation and is regularly updated to accurately reflect changes within the IOC and the wider Olympic Movement.