The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has played an important role in the development of the culture and Olympic education agenda, by establishing a policy that seeks to provide greater resources to their promotion in and through sport at national, regional and international level, and particularly at the Olympic Games.

This policy has two main objectives:

• It strives to develop the link between sport and culture in all its forms, encourages cultural exchange and promotes the diversity of cultures.
• It also aims to promote Olympic education and supports other institutions which prone the values of Olympism.

It is based on the principles enshrined in the Olympic Charter (Fundamental Principles):

• Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.
• The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has played an important role in the development of the sport and environment agenda, by establishing a policy that seeks to provides greater resources to sustainable development in and through sport at national, regional and international level, and particularly at the Olympic Games.

This policy has two main objectives:

• it strives to promote Olympic Games which respect the environment and meet the standards of sustainable development.
• it also aims to promote awareness among and educate the members of the Olympic family and sports practitioners in general of the importance of a healthy environment and sustainable development.

It is based on the principles enshrined in the The Olympic Charter (Chapter 1, The Olympic Movement and its Actions: Mission and Role of the IOC):

• to encourage and support a responsible concern for environmental issues, to promote sustainable development in sport and require that the Olympic Games are held accordingly; and
• to promote a positive legacy from the Olympic Games to the Host cities and the Host countries.

The IOC policy also finds its roots and scope in the Olympic Movement's agenda 21 which is another major reference document in this field.

The Olympic Movement's Agenda 21 seeks to encourage its members to play an active part in sustainable development. It sets out the basic concepts and general action to be taken in order to achieve this goal. It is a document setting out doctrine and an action programme aimed at all members of the Olympic Movement and athletes in general. It is a theoretical guide on sustainable development in the largest sense in that the different social, economic, geographical, climatic, cultural and religious contexts that are characteristic of the Olympic Movement are taken into account.