The International Olympic Committee has dissolved 12 commissions, including those dealing with human rights, gender equality, diversity and inclusion, the Olympic programme and Olympism365. Announced on Friday, 16 October, the decision raises questions about the future of these areas within the Olympic movement and the direction of the IOC itself.
The decision should be viewed as more than an administrative change. The IOC says working groups with clearly defined mandates offer a more effective and flexible way to shape policy and support decision-making. Yet replacing permanent commissions with structures that may have more limited mandates also raises questions about continuity, independence and who ultimately determines which issues receive attention. The change comes amid wider discussions about the IOC’s governance, the Olympic Charter and the role of international sports federations.
The key question is whether the new arrangements will improve the IOC’s work or concentrate greater control over policy within its leadership. Permanent commissions provide a structure for examining particular issues over time, while working groups can be established to address specific objectives. That flexibility may be useful, but it also makes the safeguards surrounding their mandates, membership and recommendations particularly important.
The record of the dissolved commissions deserves scrutiny as well. Their existence did not necessarily mean that they operated independently or achieved their stated objectives. Their contribution to promoting fair play, combating discrimination and protecting athletes’ human rights should be assessed alongside the IOC’s decision to replace them. If the commissions failed to address persistent problems effectively, the question is whether the new structure will offer a genuine improvement or simply a different administrative arrangement.
Many of the challenges these commissions were expected to address remain unresolved. Female athletes in some countries continue to face discrimination, while others encounter restrictions on participation because of their religious beliefs or ethnic background. Compulsory hijab, concerns about sex-testing procedures and gender segregation raise difficult questions about athletes’ rights and equal access to sport. Doping remains a separate but equally persistent challenge to sporting integrity. The extent to which the former commissions addressed these issues should form part of any assessment of their performance.
The question of independence is central to the future of the new system. Will working groups be able to scrutinise existing policies, raise uncomfortable questions and make recommendations that challenge the IOC’s leadership? What guarantees will ensure that human rights, gender equality and the fight against discrimination remain priorities when a group’s mandate ends? Without clear arrangements for transparency, continuity and accountability, the effectiveness of the new structure will be difficult to judge.
These concerns also connect the decision to the broader direction of Olympic governance. The IOC is reassessing how it organises its work and shapes the Olympic programme, while the position of international federations within the movement remains an important issue. Kirsty Coventry’s support for a discipline-based approach to the Olympic programme adds to the debate over how sporting priorities are set. Taken together, these developments raise a wider question about where authority lies within the Olympic movement and how the interests of athletes, federations and other stakeholders are represented.
A more streamlined organisation may help the IOC respond to specific challenges and manage its responsibilities more efficiently. But efficiency alone does not guarantee transparency or accountability, nor does a smaller administrative structure necessarily offer stronger protection for athletes. The central issue is how the IOC will exercise its authority and fulfil its responsibilities beyond organising the Olympic Games.
The dissolution of the 12 commissions does not, by itself, prove that the IOC intends to abandon those responsibilities. It does, however, raise questions about how they will be upheld under the new arrangements. The test will be whether the working groups can provide sustained scrutiny, address longstanding problems and ensure that human rights, equality and accountability remain integral to the Olympic movement. Ultimately, the reform should be judged not by the structure the IOC creates, but by the results it delivers.
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