The Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC, ; IOC Code: GRE) is the governing Olympic body of Greece. It is the second-oldest National Olympic Committee in the world (after the French Olympic Committee), it organizes the country's representatives at the Olympic Games and other multi-sport events. It is based in Chalandri, a suburb of the Athens agglomeration.
Members of the committee are 27 sports federations, which elect the Executive Council composed of the president and six members.
History The history of the Hellenic Olympic Committee is strongly connected to the history of the revival of the Olympic Games. It was founded in Athens on February 3, 1894, with the name Committee of the Olympic Games (, E.O.A.) and became a member of the International Olympic Committee in 1895. E.O.A organized 1896 Summer Olympics, first in modern history, in restored Panathenaic Stadium, who was held from 6 to 15 April.History
In 1899, the Greek government gave to E.O.A. full responsibility to cooperate with other sport federations, spreads the Olympic spirit and its structure of the 12 members, led by the president.
When Athens was chosen as the host city of the 2004 Summer Olympics during the 106th IOC Session held in Lausanne on 5 September 1997, in 2000 the E.O.A. changed its name to the Hellenic Olympic Committee.
From the I Mediterranean Games in Alexandria in 1951, Hellenic Olympic Committee is responsible for their holding every four years as part of preparations for the Olympic Games.
The HOC organises the lighting ceremony of the Olympic flame in Ancient Olympia for ceremonies of the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, as well as the Olympic torch relay over Greece, before the Flame continues its journey in the host country of the Olympic Games.
List of presidents President Term Crown Prince Constantine 1894–1912 King Constantine I 1913 Crown Prince George 1914–1917 Miltiadis Negrepontis 1918–1920 Crown Prince George 1921–1922 King George II 1922–1923 George Averoff 1924–1930 Ioannis Drosopoulos 1930–1936 Crown Prince Paul 1936–1948 King Paul 1948–1952 Konstantinos Georgakopoulos 1953–1954 Crown Prince Constantine 1955–1964 Princess Irene 1965–1968 1969–1973 Spyridon Vellianitis 1973–1974 Apostolos Nikolaidis 1974–1976 Georgios Athanasiadis 1976–1983 Aggelos Lempesis 1983–1984 1985–1992 Antonios Tzikas 1993–1996 1997–2004 Minos Kyriakou 2004–2009 Spyros Capralos 2009–2025 Isidoros Kouvelos 2025–present
IOC members Member Term Demetrius Vikelas 1894–1899 Alexandros Merkatis 1899–1925 George Averoff 1926–1930 Nikolaos Politis 1930–1933 Aggelos Volanakis 1933–1963 1946–1965 Constantine II of Greece 1963–1974 Pyrros Lappas 1965–1980 1975–1977 Nikolaos Nisiotis 1978–1986 1981–2005 1986–2015 Spyros Capralos 2019–present
Executive committee The committee of the HOC is represented by:Executive committee President: Isidoros Kouvelos Members: Stelios Aggeloudis, Manolis Kolympadis, Antonis Nikolopoulos, Voula Kozompoli
Member federations The Hellenic National Federations are the organizations that coordinate all aspects of their individual sports. They are responsible for training, competition and development of their sports. There are currently 26 Olympic Summer and one Winter Sport Federations in Greece.Member – Federations National Federation Summer or Winter Headquarters Hellenic Archery Federation Summer Athens Hellenic Athletics Federation Summer Nea Smyrni, Athens Summer OAKA, Athens Hellenic Basketball Federation Summer OAKA, Athens Ελληνική Ομοσπονδία Πυγμαχίας Summer Athens Hellenic Canoe-Kayak Federation Summer Piraeus, Athens Hellenic Cycling Federation Summer OAKA, Athens Hellenic Equestrian Federation Summer Markopoulo Mesogaias Hellenic Fencing Federation Summer Athens Hellenic Football Federation Summer Athens Hellenic Golf Federation Summer Glyfada, Athens Hellenic Gymnastics Federation Summer OAKA, Athens Hellenic Handball Federation Summer Athens Summer Ano Liosia, Athens Hellenic Karate Federation Summer Ano Liosia, Athens Hellenic Modern Pentathlon Federation Summer Athens Hellenic Federation of Mountaineering and Climbing Summer Athens Hellenic Rowing Federation Summer Piraeus, Athens Hellenic Sailing Federation Summer Kallithea, Athens Hellenic Shooting Federation Summer Athens Hellenic Swimming Federation Summer Nea Smyrni, Athens Summer Athens Hellenic Taekwondo Federation Summer Athens Hellenic Volleyball Federation Summer Amaroussion, Athens Hellenic Weightlifting Federation Summer OAKA, Athens Hellenic Winter Sports Federation Winter Athens Hellenic Wrestling Federation Summer Ano Liosia, Athens
Objects of the HOC The Hellenic Olympic Committee operates a number of sports facilities: Panathenaic Stadium, Karaiskakis Stadium, Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre, the education facilities of the International Olympic Academy, Museum of Modern Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia; and participates in the management of OAKA.The premises of the HOC
See also Greece at the Olympics
References
External links Official website