The correct answer is 1894. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was founded on 23 June 1894 at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France.
The Founding of the Modern Olympic Movement
The establishment of the IOC was the culmination of efforts by French educator and historian Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who sought to revive the ancient Olympic Games as an international sporting event to foster peace and communication between nations. Coubertin called an international sports congress at the Sorbonne in June 1894. With 79 representatives from 13 countries in attendance, the congress unanimously approved the revival of the Olympic Games and laid the foundation for the IOC.
The IOC was formally created as the governing body of the Olympic Movement, with Greek writer Demetrios Vikelas elected as its first president. The first modern Olympic Games were subsequently held in Athens, Greece, in April 1896.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
- 1890: While Coubertin was active in promoting physical education and sport during this period, the IOC was not founded until four years later.
- 1916: This is the year the Olympic Games were scheduled to be held in Berlin but were cancelled due to World War I. It is not the founding year of the IOC.
- 1896: This is the year of the first modern Olympic Games in Athens, not the year the IOC was established. The IOC was founded two years earlier, in 1894.
Therefore, the International Olympic Committee was established in 1894, making it the only correct answer.