On the eve of the 144th Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which will take place from March 19 to 21, 2025, at Costa Navarino in Messinia [1] and whose key agenda items include the election of the 10th IOC President, there has been a surge in publications, posts, and articles of every kind and objective regarding the entire event and the new figure who will succeed Thomas Bach[2]. It is worth noting that Thomas Bach—a German lawyer, former fencer, and gold medalist at the 1976 Olympic Games—has been the 9th President of the IOC from 2013 to the present day.
Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and possessing global prestige, the IOC was founded in 1894 ahead of the staging of the first Olympic Games of the modern era in Athens in 1896. The first President of the IOC was the prominent Greek scholar Demetrius Vikelas (1894–1896), who was soon succeeded by Pierre de Coubertin, who held a record-breaking 29-year tenure in office (1896–1925).
In most cases, media reports collectively refer to the 109 members of the International Olympic Committee as “the immortals” (athanatoi)—the very members who will cast their votes to choose one of the seven candidates for the presidency, whose name will be announced on Thursday, March 20, 2025[3].
Because I realize that many of my fellow citizens find this particular term jarring, I am attempting with this intervention to make it clear and absolute that the hyperbolic term “immortal,” attributed to each member of the IOC, is entirely informal and arbitrary. It is not found in the official documents of the Olympic Movement, nor, of course, in the Olympic Charter. How, indeed, could it be otherwise?
In the relevant official sources of the Olympic Movement that I consulted, I was unable to find the term “immortal” applied to one or more Olympic officials anywhere, nor any reference explaining the origin and first use of the term.
Everything points to it being an improper—bordering on the ridiculous—choice of a term, a quality which, ultimately, only Time and History have the right to bestow upon individuals who, through their sacrifice or extraordinary deeds, have rendered great service to humanity. If we exclude a handful of legendary modern-era athletes from the world of the Olympic Movement, I personally believe that only one person meets all the criteria and has been established in the public consciousness as immortal: the modern revivalist of the Olympic Games, Pierre de Coubertin.
A quick internet search, which admittedly does not yield many reliable results, reveals first of all that there are various interpretations regarding the origin of the term. According to one version, IOC members were dubbed “immortals,” primarily by the journalistic community, because their tenure was once lifelong—meaning it lasted until their death.
According to another perspective, IOC members represent the continuers of the ancient Olympic Games tradition. Their ranks often include Olympic medalists, whom the ancient Greeks believed automatically achieved the status of an immortal, dining alongside Zeus and the Gods of Olympus by virtue of their victory.
Finally, there is an approach that focuses on the significant influence and power of IOC members in making decisions concerning the Olympic Games and sports in general.
The term seems to have prevailed exclusively in Greece after World War II or later, and I estimate that it was initially used by some influential figure in an attempt to emphatically stress the historical continuity of the Olympic Games, to promote Greece as a place that can glorify those who serve and support the Olympic Movement, and to build a myth around their role and its importance. A thorough search through the archives of Greek newspapers of that era might offer the sought-after answer to this controversial issue.
In any case, the majority of IOC members are unaware that in Greece they are attributed the supposedly honorary title of… Highlander!!! Those who do find out treat the characterization with awkwardness and reservation, as to do otherwise would reveal them to be thoroughly vain and conceited people.
Therefore, because the term “immortal” is unbefitting of someone who simply holds the status of an IOC member—since it is misplaced, exudes excessive flattery, and evokes a mocking disposition—I propose that it be permanently and irrevocably withdrawn from… circulation!
[1] I was among the first to oppose the choice of Pylos and Messinia instead of the appropriate location, namely Olympia and Elis, for hosting this important conference. This approach clearly constitutes a great mistake and insult to Olympia, which I hope will be remedied in the future
[2] Indicative titles of relevant publications:
“Απόβαση ”Αθανάτων” στη Μεσσηνία – Εκλέγεται ο νέος πρόεδρος της ΔΟΕ”
Στην Αρχαία Ολυμπία οι «αθάνατοι» της ΔΟΕ – Εκλέγεται ο νέος πρόεδρος, πρώτη παρουσία Τασούλα ως ΠτΔ
Εκλογές ΔΟΕ: Ποιοι είναι οι εστεμμένοι “αθάνατοι” που έρχονται στην Ελλάδα
[3] It is worth noting that according to the Olympic Charter (Chapter 2, Rule 16, 1.4) “the members of the IOC represent and promote the interests of the IOC and the Olympic Movement in their countries and in the organizations of the Olympic Movement in which they serve”. The IOC Members’ Election Committee is responsible for selecting and proposing for voting each time the new members who will enter the highest governing body of the Olympic Movement and will replace those who leave.… (https://www.olympics.com/ioc/ioc-members-election-commission).
Since 12 December 1999, the maximum total number of IOC members has been limited to 115. The following quota must also be respected:
- 70 are individual members.
- 15 members are athletes.
- 15 members are presidents of National Olympic Committees.
- 15 members are presidents of International Olympic Sports Federations.
Following the adoption of Recommendation 37 of the Olympic Agenda 2020, the age limit for IOC members is set at 70. A single extension of the term of office for a maximum of four years beyond the age limit of 70 may be granted by the IOC Session, in a maximum of five cases.σεις.