International Olympic Committee

Cultural Framework of Business | 5th October

2010 |

Examine the International Olympic Committee and critically evaluate how the organisation manages cross-cultural relations across its stakeholders. | |

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 3

2. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) 4

2.1. Foundation 4

2.2. Organisational Structure 4

2.2.1. IOC President 4

2.2.2. IOC Executive Board 5

2.2.3. IOC Session 5

2.3. IOC Membership 6

2.4. Principles, functions and the role of the IOC 6

2.4.1. Olympic Movement 6

2.4.2. Olympic Charter 7

2.4.3. Olympic Commissions 7

3. Diversity Management 8

3.1. Human Rights 11

4. Cross-Cultural Management 12

4.1. Culture and Style of Management 12

4.1.1. Power (Hierarchy and Equality) 14

4.1.2. Competitiveness (Competitive or Co-operative) 15

4.1.3. Activity (Doing Culture or Being Culture) 16

4.1.4. Communication (High Context or Low Context) 16

4.2. Social Capital 18

5. Conclusion 19

6. Reference list 20

1. Introduction

The first Olympic Games were held at Olympia, Greece in 776 BC and were a peace agreement between the city-state of Elis and Pisa, where the Games were held every four years in accordance to the Greek calendar. The Games lasted 1170 years from 776 BC to 393 AD before they were abolished by the Christian Byzantine Emperor Theodosius 1. From when the Games first started, the Olympics were served as a bond between the Greeks and strengthened their national unity. Greeks moved to live in foreign surroundings like Syria, Asia and Egypt during 323 AD to 146 BC (Hellenistic Period) but still held on to their culture of athletics. Competitions were organised and competitors were sent from their town to compete in the Panhellenic Games. The Olympic Games started to have an international nature in the 2nd century AD when roman citizenship was extended within the Roman Empire, which attracted many participants from outside of Greece (NOSTOS...