SSC
Who was the first president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)?
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Answer: Option C — Demetrios Vikelas
Detailed Solution
Demetrios Vikelas (Dimitrios Vikelas, 1835-1908) was a Greek businessman and writer who served as the first president of the International Olympic Committee from 1894 to 1896.
The IOC was founded on 23 June 1894 at the Sorbonne in Paris, at a congress organised by the French educator Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who wanted to revive the ancient Olympic Games. It was decided that the first modern Olympic Games would be held in Athens, Greece, in 1896, to honour Greece as the birthplace of the ancient Olympics. According to the rule at the time, the president was to come from the country hosting the next Games, so Vikelas, a Greek, became the first president.
After the 1896 Athens Games, Pierre de Coubertin became the second president and served the longest term, from 1896 to 1925. He is regarded as the father of the modern Olympic Games. He also designed the Olympic rings (1913) and is credited with the Olympic motto "Citius, Altius, Fortius" (Faster, Higher, Stronger), which was suggested by his friend Henri Didon. The word "Communiter" (Together) was added to the motto in 2021.
Facts about the IOC:
- Its headquarters is in Lausanne, Switzerland (since 1915).
- 23 June is celebrated as Olympic Day.
- Some later presidents: Avery Brundage (USA, 1952-1972), Juan Antonio Samaranch (Spain, 1980-2001), Jacques Rogge (Belgium, 2001-2013) and Thomas Bach (Germany, 2013-2025).
- Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe, a former Olympic swimming champion, was elected in 2025 and became the first woman and the first African to be IOC president.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Pierre de Coubertin was the second president and the founder of the modern Olympics.
- ✗Avery Brundage was president from 1952 to 1972.
- ✗Juan Antonio Samaranch was president from 1980 to 2001.
Quick tip
Remember: First IOC president = Demetrios Vikelas (Greece, 1894-96); Coubertin = second and founder; IOC founded 23 June 1894 (Paris), HQ Lausanne; Kirsty Coventry = first woman president (2025).
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Firsts in India & World — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Firsts in India & World, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the first persons and events in India and the world: the first Indian to win a Nobel Prize, the first woman to hold major offices, the first to climb Everest or reach space, and India's first institutions, newspapers, railways and satellites. It also covers the largest, longest, highest and smallest records in India and the world. These are pure memory questions, so revise them as short lists by theme: first women, first in sports, first in science and space, and first in governance. Be careful with the exact wording, such as 'first Indian' versus 'first person of Indian origin', or 'first woman President' versus 'first woman Prime Minister', since options are often designed to exploit this. Practise the firsts in India and the world questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.