IOC Plans to Replace 12 Olympic Committees With Smaller Expert Advisory Groups
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is reportedly moving to restructure its advisory system by closing 12 committees and shifting towards smaller groups of experts. The proposed change would mark an effort to streamline how the organisation receives advice and handles key issues across the Olympic movement.
The details of the reported decision, including the names of the committees affected and the timetable for the transition, require confirmation from an official IOC announcement or the original news report.
A Shift Towards Smaller Expert Groups
The reported restructuring would replace the existing committee-based approach with smaller advisory groups focused on specific areas of expertise. Such a model can help organisations bring together specialists for defined tasks and adjust their advisory arrangements as priorities change.
However, it remains unclear which Olympic policy areas would be covered by the proposed groups, who would appoint their members and whether the change would affect the representation of athletes or other stakeholders.
IOC Has Been Reviewing Its Future Priorities
In June 2026, the IOC's 146th Session in Lausanne endorsed a strategic direction called “Fit for the Future”, intended to guide the Olympic movement through 2032. The strategy followed consultations involving IOC members, international sports federations, National Olympic Committees and more than 2,200 athletes and athlete representatives.
The IOC said the wider initiative was designed to keep the Olympic movement strong, relevant and effective. Its stated priorities included improving athlete support, strengthening athlete representation and protecting the integrity of sport.
The reported committee changes could form part of broader organisational reform, but an official link between the closure of the 12 committees and the strategy needs to be confirmed.
What Happens Next?
Key details to watch include which committees will be closed, how the expert groups will be selected, and whether the new structure will change how athletes and sports organisations contribute to IOC decisions.
Until the IOC publishes the full details, the scope and practical effects of the reported changes remain uncertain.