The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the organisation at the centre of the modern Olympic Movement. It was founded in 1894 and has a leading role in protecting the Olympic Games and the values linked with them. The IOC works with National Olympic Committees, international sports federations and the organising committees responsible for each edition of the Games.
Its work is not limited to staging the Summer and Winter Olympics. The organisation also deals with Olympic governance, host selection, athlete-related programmes, international sports cooperation and the long-term development of the Olympic Movement. It provides the common framework within which many different sports bodies work together.
The IOC is based in Lausanne, Switzerland, a city closely associated with international sport and often called the Olympic Capital. Its headquarters, Olympic House, serves as the main administrative and governance centre for the organisation. The sections below explain the headquarters address, location, contact details and the correct ways to reach the IOC.
Quick About IOC Headquarters
| Details | Information |
| Organisation | International Olympic Committee |
| Short Name | IOC |
| Founded | 1894 |
| Legal Form | Private, not-for-profit international organisation under Swiss law |
| Headquarters | Olympic House (Maison Olympique), 1007 Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Telephone | +41 21 621 6111 |
| Media Email | pressoffice@olympic.org |
| General Information / Studies | Use the Olympic Studies Centre and official IOC contact routes |
| Official Website | olympics.com/ioc |
IOC Headquarters Address
The IOC’s registered office and headquarters is Olympic House (Maison Olympique) in Lausanne, Switzerland. The headquarters campus is in the Vidy area and serves as the central workplace for IOC administration, governance and many Olympic Movement meetings.
| Particular | Details |
| Office | International Olympic Committee – Olympic House |
| Common French Name | Maison Olympique |
| Area | Vidy |
| City / Postal Code | 1007 Lausanne |
| Country | Switzerland |
IOC Headquarters Location
Olympic House is in Lausanne near Lake Geneva, a city that hosts numerous international sports organisations. The IOC opened the current Olympic House building in 2019. Visitors should distinguish IOC headquarters from The Olympic Museum, which is a separate public attraction in Lausanne.
- City: Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Area: Vidy, near Lake Geneva.
- Olympic House is a working headquarters, not the same site as The Olympic Museum.
- Meetings should be arranged through the relevant IOC department.
What IOC Headquarters Does
Olympic House is the administrative centre of a movement that is deliberately spread across many independent sporting bodies. The IOC Executive Board, commissions and professional staff use the Lausanne headquarters for governance, Olympic Games coordination, athlete-related programmes, commercial and legal work, sustainability initiatives and relationships with National Olympic Committees and International Federations. The headquarters also hosts meetings that shape future editions of the Games and wider Olympic policy. It does not, however, select every country’s athletes or govern the technical rules of every sport. Those responsibilities largely sit with National Olympic Committees and International Federations. The Lausanne office is therefore the right contact for central IOC matters, while many practical sporting questions belong elsewhere in the Olympic system.
IOC Headquarters Contact Number
The IOC publishes a central Lausanne telephone number, while specific enquiry types have separate email channels.
| Contact Purpose | Details |
| Main IOC telephone | +41 21 621 6111 |
| Media enquiries | pressoffice@olympic.org |
| Image / audiovisual requests | Use the official IOC image-rights contact |
| General research information | Use the Olympic Studies Centre / IOC information service |
IOC Headquarters Email Id and Online Contact
There is no need to send every enquiry to the media office. The IOC publishes specialised contacts for press, images, research and other functions. Sports participation and athlete-selection questions are often handled by National Olympic Committees or International Federations rather than IOC headquarters. Readers should first identify which Olympic body actually controls the issue.
How to Reach IOC Headquarters
Lausanne has strong rail connections with Geneva, Zurich and other Swiss cities. From Lausanne’s main railway station, local public transport or taxi can be used to reach the Vidy area. An official appointment should be confirmed before travelling to Olympic House.
- Use “Olympic House / Maison Olympique, Lausanne” as the destination.
- Do not confuse the headquarters with The Olympic Museum.
- Confirm visitor access and meeting details in advance.
IOC Headquarters vs National Olympic Committees and Sports Federations
| Office / Channel | Main Role |
| IOC Headquarters | Leads the Olympic Movement and central Olympic governance. |
| National Olympic Committees | Represent the Olympic Movement in individual countries and manage national Olympic teams. |
| International Federations | Govern individual sports internationally and set sport-specific rules. |
| Organising Committees | Plan and deliver a specific edition of the Olympic Games. |
When Should You Contact IOC Headquarters?
- Formal Olympic Movement or institutional correspondence.
- Media enquiries intended for the IOC press office.
- Research and historical-information requests through the relevant IOC service.
- A scheduled meeting at Olympic House.
Important Points Before Contacting the IOC
- For national athlete selection, contact the relevant National Olympic Committee or federation.
- Use the press office only for genuine media enquiries.
- Check whether the issue belongs to an organising committee for a specific Games.
- Olympic House is a working office, not a general tourist venue.
- Use only official olympics.com contacts for rights, media and institutional questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where is IOC Headquarters?
The International Olympic Committee is headquartered at Olympic House (Maison Olympique), 1007 Lausanne, Switzerland.
2. What is the IOC headquarters phone number?
The IOC publishes +41 21 621 6111 as its main Lausanne telephone number.
3. What is the IOC media email?
Media enquiries can be sent to pressoffice@olympic.org.
4. Is The Olympic Museum the IOC headquarters?
No. Both are in Lausanne, but The Olympic Museum is a separate public institution from the IOC’s Olympic House headquarters.
5. Should athletes contact the IOC directly about selection?
Usually not. Athlete selection is generally handled through National Olympic Committees and the relevant International Federation or national federation.
