47 Sports Programme, Admission of Sports, Disciplines and Events
The IOC establishes the programme of the Olympic Games, which only includes Olympic Sports.
1) Olympic Sports included in the Programme of the Olympic Games:
To be included in the programme of the Olympic Games, an Olympic sport must conform to the following criteria:
1.1 only sports widely practised by men in at least seventy-five countries and on four continents, and by women in at least forty countries and on three continents, may be included in the programme of the Games of the Olympiad;
1.2 only sports widely practised in at least twenty-five countries and on three continents may be included in the programme of the Olympic Winter Games;
1.3 only sports that adopt and implement the World Anti-Doping Code can be included and remain in the programme of the Olympic Games.
1.4 sports are admitted to the programme of the Olympic Games at least seven years before specific Olympic Games in respect of which no change shall thereafter be permitted, subject to paragraph 6 below.
2 Disciplines:
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2.1 A discipline, being a branch of an Olympic sport comprising one or several events, must have a recognised international standing to be included in the programme of the Olympic Games.
2.2 The standards for the admission of disciplines are the same as those required for the admission of Olympic sports.
2.3 A discipline is admitted to the programme at least seven years before specific Olympic Games in respect of which no change shall thereafter be permitted, subject to paragraph 6 below.
3 Events:
3.1 An event, being a competition in an Olympic sport or in one of its disciplines and resulting in a ranking, gives rise to the award of medals and diplomas.
3.2 To be included in the programme of the Olympic Games, events must have a recognised international standing both numerically and geographically, and have been included at least twice in world or continental championships.
3.3 Only events practised by men in at least fifty countries and on three continents, and by women in at least thirty-five countries and on three continents, may be included in the programme of the Olympic Games.
3.4 Events are admitted not later than three years before specific Olympic Games in respect of which no change shall thereafter be permitted, subject to paragraph 6 below.
4 Criteria for Admission of Sports, Disciplines and Events:
4.1 To be included in the programme of the Olympic Games any sport, discipline or event must satisfy the conditions specified by this rule.
4.2 Sports, disciplines or events in which performance depends essentially on mechanical propulsion are not acceptable.
4.3 Unless the IOC decides to the contrary, a single event cannot simultaneously give rise to both an individual and a team ranking.
4.4 Sports, disciplines or events included in the programme of the Olympic Games which no longer satisfy the criteria of this rule may nevertheless, in certain exceptional cases, be maintained therein by decision of the IOC for the sake of
Olympic tradition.
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5 IFs’ Notice of Participation in the Olympic Games:
The IFs governing the sports included in the programme of the Olympic Games must confirm to the IOC their participation in the respective Olympic Games not later than at the time of the
IOC Session which elects the host city for such Games.
6 Waiver of deadlines for admission or exclusion of sports, disciplines or events:
The deadlines set forth in paragraphs 1.4, 2.3 and 3.4 above may be waived, in order to allow changes in the programme of the Olympic Games under the following conditions:
6.1 For the admission of sports, disciplines or events, a deadline may be waived by decision of the competent organ of the IOC, with the approval of the IF governing the sport concerned and the OCOG of the edition of the Olympic Games concerned.
6.2 For the exclusion of sports, disciplines or events, a deadline may be waived by decision of the competent organ of the IOC if the IF governing such sport does not comply with the Olympic Charter or with the World Anti-Doping Code. In addition, measures and sanctions according to R23 may apply.
7 Competence as to the Admission or Exclusion of a Sport, Discipline or Event:
The admission or exclusion of a sport falls within the competence of the IOC Session. A decision to include or exclude a discipline or event falls within the competence of the IOC Executive Board.
48 Programme of the Olympic Games
1 The programme of the Games of the Olympiad must include at least fifteen Olympic sports. Such required minimum does not exist for the programme of the Olympic Winter Games.
2 After each Olympic Games, the IOC reviews the programme of the Olympic Games.
3 On the occasion of each review, the standards for the admission of sports, disciplines or events may be reviewed and the admission or exclusion of sports, disciplines or events determined by the competent IOC organs.
