In 2008, the International Olympic Committee prepared a publication on good governance standards and recommendations called “The Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance of the Olympic and Sports Movement”.

“We cannot expect others to adhere to high ethical standards if we do not do so ourselves. We cannot expect proper conduct on the field of play if we do not have good governance within the Olympic Family”, said former IOC President Jacques Rogge during his Congress Opening Ceremony Speech at the XIII Olympic Congress in 2009.

In November 2013, during the Olympic Summit held at the IOC Headquarters, the necessity for all the participants of the Olympic Movement to respect the principles of good governance and ethics was approved.

The Code of Ethics mentions that “The Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance of the Olympic and Sports Movement, in particular transparency, responsibility, and accountability, must be respected by all Olympic constituents”.

Good governance is an important part of the Fundamental Principles of Olympism. It serves to ensure the respect and confidence of all partners.

There are 8 Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance:

• Transparency of the Rules: clear texts must exist and be accessible and circulated; financial transparency, in particular financial commitments, tender processes, disclosure of financial information, and accounts by generally accepted accounting principles
• Transparency of management (agenda, documentation)
• Transparency of managers (job descriptions, objective criteria for recruitment)
• Transparency of risk-management
• Efficient internal communication
• Shared responsibility: clear text on the respective responsibilities (political/management decisions)
• Controlled responsibilities: clear and regular reporting from elected and appointed office-holders
• Regular and legitimate elections
• Right to appeal against all forms of disciplinary measures
• Respect of minorities: respect for the right of expression (freedom of speech)

Under the recommendations of the Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC proposes a list of principles and elements to be mutually recognized and respected by the NOCs and the competent government authorities. The Consolidated minimum requirements for the implementation of the basic principles of Good Governance are also at the disposal of the NOCs and include a self-evaluation tool.

The Lithuanian National Olympic Committee (LNOC) in cooperation with the IOC provided a Lithuanian translation of the Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance. The LNOC carries out its operations based on these principles and recommends the same to all the Lithuanian sports federations.  

The LNOC constantly assesses its activities based on the IOC’s Principles of Good Governance, participates in the Erasmus+ Sports program’s projects SIGGS (Support the Implementation of Good Governance in Sport), GANTT (Practical Execution of Good Governance in Sport for Baltics), RINGS, and others.

As defined in the Principles of Good Governance, the LNOC annually submits operational and financial plans and financial statements. The LTOK.LT website contains the organization’s most important documentation, the organization constantly collaborates with the media, follows the principles of the Olympic Agenda 2020 and recommendations for ensuring gender equality.

The goal of the LNOC is to continually improve in all areas of its activity and to meet the highest standards of good governance based on methodology developed by the IOC.