Hellenic Olympic Committee

Hellenic Olympic Committee

Hellenic Olympic Committee logo
Country/Region	Greece
Code	GRE
Created	February 3, 1894
Recognized	1895
Continental Association	EOC
Headquarters	Athens, Greece
President	Spyros Capralos
Secretary General	Emmanuel Kolympadis
Website	www.hoc.gr

Hellenic Olympic Committee headquarters, in Chalandri.

Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) (Greek: Ελληνική Ολυμπιακή Επιτροπή) is the governing Olympic body of Greece. It is one of the oldest National Olympic Committees in the world, being founded in 1894 and recognised in 1895.

It is based in Athens, Greece.

History

The HOC was founded in Athens on 3 February, 1894 on the name Commiittee of the Olympic Games (E.O.A.) with first chairman Crown Prince Constantine of Greece. On the same day, the committee held first meeting to organize the first modern Olympic Games. After the dissolution of this committee because of economic crisis in the country, new board was formed who has successfully founded sponsors for preperatory commission of the Games. Finally, after many problems, the Games were opened on 6 April and closed on 15 April 1896 in the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. which was restored in white marble thanks to the donation of one million drachmas from George Averoff.

One year later after the Games has formed first permanent committee on the proposal of king George II to held every 4 year Panhellenic Games in Athens. 1899. because of debate who is chairman in sports events, government gave to E.O.A. full responsibility to cooperate with other sport's federations, spread Olympic spirit and his structure of 12 members led by successor.

In 2000, for organisation 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, the E.O.A. changed its name to the Hellenic Olympic Committee.

List of presidents

Greeks in the International Olympic Committee

• Demetrius Vikelas (1894-1899), who was the first IOC President (1894-1896)
• Alexandros Merkatis (1899-1925)
• George Averoff (1926-1930)
• Nikolaos Politis (1930-1933)
• Aggelos Volanakis (1933-1963)
• Ioannis Ketseas (1946-1965)
• ex-King Constantine (1963-1974)
• Pyrros Lapas (1965-1980)
• Epaminondas Petralias (1975-1977)
• Nikolaos Nisiotis (1978-1986)
• Nikos Filaretos (1981-2005)
• Lambis Nikoalou (1986-present), who was the IOC Vice President until 2009.

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 24 Olympic Summer and 1 Winter Sport Federations in Greece.

See also

• Greece at the Olympics
• Greece at the Paralympics
• Flag bearers for Greece at the Olympics

External links

• Official website