The Olympic Movement begins in mid 19th century in Turkey after modern sports enter the country. This is the period in which Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the father of modern Olympic Games tries to spread the games around the world.

Coubertin gets impressed by the success of the Turkish athletes in the Athens Intercalated Games and offers Selim Sırrı Bey, the most famous physical trainer at that time, to be the representative of International Olympic Committee in Turkey. This offer can be actualized only after the Second Constitution and Selim Sırrı Bey becomes the general secretary at the National Olympic Committee of Turkey (NOCT) which was founded under the presidency of the journalist Ali İhsan Bey.

1911… Ottoman Empire becomes a legal member of the International Olympic Committee

Selim Sırrı Tarcan participated in the International Olympic Committee congresses organized in various European cities and represented Turkey successfully. Thus, The Ottoman Empire became a legal member in the International Olympic Committee meeting at Budapest in 1911.

Selim Sırrı Tarcan becomes the president of NOCT

The Committee, gathered after the First World War decided not to call Turkey, which was among the defeated countries, to the 1920 games. After 2 years, it was realised that the decision was a mistake and Turkey was called to the 1924 Olympiad. Selim Sırrı Bey became the general secretary of “National Olympic Committee” which was then turned into “Association of Participating in World Competitions” and finally into “Turkish National Olympic Committee”. After the declaration of the Turkish Republic, the administration changed. Selim Sırrı Bey was elected the president.

When Coubertin left the International Olympic Committee in 1925, Selim Sırrı Bey also resigned from the presidency of NOCT, however stayed in the Committee until 1930. Meanwhile “Union of Physical Activities Associations of Turkey” which was founded to manage sports facilities in Turkey started to run the activities of the NOCT. When the representative of the International Olympic Committee Kemalettin Sami Pasha died in 1933, Reşit Saffet Atabinen was elected both as the president of NOCT and the representative of the International Olympic Committee.

The prize money which was given to the medal winners at the London Olympic Games became a problem after four years. Those champions were announced as “professionals” and they could not participate at the Helsinki Games. That year, Atabinen resigned from his duty as the representative of International Olympic Committee. The Committee asigned Suat Erler to this position in 1955.

Rebirth

In 1956, IOC noticed that the president in charge of the Turkish sports  assigned to this position was also the president of NOCT. The International Committee requested that the president be elected not assigned. The preparation of a law which would allow this lasted until 1962. Only then NOCT became an independent institution fulfilling the requirements of the International Olympic Committee.
The Word “National”

National Olympic Committee of Turkey has gained the word “National” with the Council of Ministers verdict dated 28.02.1964, no. 6/2762 “interacting with foreign institutions”, “association in favour of the society” with the verdict dated 02.05.1970, no. 7/191 and the word “Turkey” with the verdict dated 25.09.1973, no. 7 /7146.

According to the statute of  the National Olympic Committee of Turkey, its mission and principles are:

To create the awareness and spirit of sports in the Turkish society,

To spread sports in the country to wider groups,

To spread the idea of doing sports under the Olympic ideals, to enhance and maintain this idea,

To take precautions in order to make sure that the athletes act according to the Olympic rules,

To do research on this issue,

To act independently regardless of any political, economical or religious influences.

The mission of the NOCT is to improve and spread the Olympic Movement and sports within the main principles and regulations of Olympic Agreement. The Committee, with this aim:

Organizes Olympic Games cooperating with the related institutions if the games are decided to take place in any Turkish city.

Sets relations and cooperations between internationally approved Turkish sports federations and International Olympic Committee and other National Olympic Committees.

Examines and approves the qualifications of Turkish athletes who will participate in olympic and other games, establishes the Olympic teams; meets all the requirements and monitors the teams.

Manages the conflicts that may occur between sports federations.

Gives all the necessary advice to sports federations in order to ease their process of participating in Olympic and similar games.

Supplies financial support from the official institutions or requests financial support from private corporations and individuals for Turkey to participate in Olympic Games or for these games to be organized in Turkey. Organizes public campaigns with this target.

Releases publications and organizes meetings to actualize the Olympic Idea and Olympic Movement. Makes suggestions about the organization and management of the Olympic Movement and Olympic Games to the International Olympic Committee when necessary.

Organizes cultural, sportive and artistic activities once in a year under the name of “Olympic Day”.

If a Turkish city is nominated for the organization of Olympic Games, makes necessary inspections and approves the proposal with the official authority of the city and guarantees that the games would be organized in compliance with the rules and regulations set by the International Olympic Committee.

Plans and executes training programs to improve Turkish sports.

Monitors the actions taken against doping and supports the activities on this issue.