Jean, Count de Beaumont proposed creating an International Olympic Aid effort to help less-resourced National Olympic Committees (NOCs). This idea set an early direction for using Olympic institutions to support sport development internationally, including in newly independent African states seeking organized sport systems.
The first African Games were held in Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo). The event helped strengthen continental sport ties and created a major target for athlete preparation and coaching development—areas later supported through Olympic Solidarity and African NOC cooperation.
The International Olympic Aid body became a Commission of the IOC while keeping the same name. This change mattered because it moved assistance for developing NOCs closer to the IOC’s formal structures, helping the program reach more countries through organized planning.
Representatives at the Permanent General Assembly of NOCs created the International Institute for the Development of NOCs. The Institute aimed to provide technical and sporting assistance—support that was especially relevant for many African NOCs building coaching, administration, and training systems.
Herman van Karnebeek initiated an Olympic Solidarity Commission through the NOCs’ structures to expand and coordinate assistance efforts. This step helped move from one-off aid toward more organized development programs that could be applied across regions, including Africa.
The International Olympic Aid Commission and the newer Olympic Solidarity effort merged into what became Olympic Solidarity. The merger created a joint IOC/NOC framework that could fund coaching, training, and NOC capacity-building—core needs across many African sport systems.
By the mid-1970s, Olympic Solidarity-type assistance had grown into hundreds of projects across dozens of countries, supported by many NOCs. This period shows the shift from a concept of “aid” to practical delivery—such as training courses and technical support—that African NOCs could access and adapt locally.
Olympic Solidarity was moved to its current headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, by IOC decision. Centralizing operations supported more consistent planning and oversight, helping development and scholarship programs scale across continents, including Africa.
The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) was founded in Lomé, bringing African NOCs into a single continental body. This strengthened regional coordination and provided a clear partner for delivering continental sport-development priorities alongside IOC programs such as Olympic Solidarity.
Olympic Solidarity published quadrennial planning and reporting for the 2005–2008 period, reflecting a mature system of multi-year budgeting and evaluation. This approach supported longer-term work in Africa, such as coach education, athlete scholarships, and NOC management training that often require sustained funding.
The IOC approved a total Olympic Solidarity budget of about USD 509.285 million for the 2017–2020 period, described as an increase over the previous quadrennial. A larger budget strengthened the ability to fund athlete development, coach training, and NOC administration—areas that many African NOCs prioritize to improve competitive readiness and governance.
The inaugural African Beach Games took place in Sal, Cabo Verde under ANOCA governance. Multi-sport events like this create demand for regional coaching and athlete pipelines, connecting continental competition to development support that NOCs can pursue through Olympic Solidarity.
When the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games were postponed, Olympic Solidarity athlete scholarships from the 2017–2020 cycle were extended to cover the delay (through August 2021 in reported cases). This helped athletes—including those from smaller African delegations—maintain training plans despite disrupted competitions and funding uncertainty.
IOC Olympic Solidarity and sport development programs in Africa (1963-2020)