The Estonian Olympic Committee ( et, Eesti Olümpiakomitee) (EOK) is responsible for the

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...

's participation in the

Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a vari ...

History

The Estonian Sports Federation ( et, Eesti Spordi Liit) decided to form the Estonian Olympic Committee in the First Estonian Sport Congress ( et, Eesti I Spordikongress) on 30 November 1919, one and a half years after the proclamation of the independence of Estonia, but it was officially founded on 8 December 1923. The first chairman of the committee dr. Karl Friedrich Akel, was elected on 5 May 1924. An independent Estonian team took part in the Olympic Games over the period of 1920–1936. As Estonia was invaded and occupied in 1940, and reoccupied by the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

in 1944, the Estonian Olympic athletes competed as part of the USSR delegations at the Olympic Games from 1952 until 1988. The NOC was renewed on 14 January 1989 when the Estonian Olympic Sports Conference passed the following resolution: "to resume the activity of the Estonian Olympic Committee founded in 1923". The continuity concept became the foundation of the activity of the restored Estonian Olympic Committee since, although it could not act 'de facto' for 50 years, it never ceased its activity 'de jure'. On the same day, the first members of the renewed NOC were elected, Arnold Green and Atko Viru. On 20 August 1991 the independence of the Republic of Estonia was proclaimed and by decision of the Executive Board of the

International Olympic Committee The International Olympic Committee (IOC; french: link=no, Comité international olympique, ''CIO'') is a non-governmental sports organisation based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is constituted in the form of an association under the Swiss ...

, at the board session in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and List of cities in Germany by population, largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European Union by population within ci ...

on 18 September 1991, the EOK was reintegrated into the

Olympic Movement The International Olympic Committee (IOC; french: link=no, Comité international olympique, ''CIO'') is a non-governmental sports organisation based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is constituted in the form of an association under the Swiss ...

on 11 November 1991. In 1992 the

IOC The International Olympic Committee (IOC; french: link=no, Comité international olympique, ''CIO'') is a non-governmental sports organisation based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is constituted in the form of an association under the Swiss ...

delegation led by president

Juan Antonio Samaranch Juan Antonio Samaranch y Torelló, 1st Marquess of Samaranch (Catalan: ''Joan Antoni Samaranch i Torelló'', ; 17 July 1920 – 21 April 2010) was a Spanish sports administrator under the Franco regime (1973–1977) who served as the seventh P ...

visited Estonia. Delegation members included Vice President of the

and Russian Olympic Committee president – Vitali Smirnov,

and Swedish Olympic Committee member –

Gunnar Ericsson Gunnar Lennart Vilhelm Ericsson (29 June 1919 – 24 December 2013) was a Swedish businessman, sports official and Liberal Party politician. He was born in Stockholm. Career Ericsson, who was the son of businessman Elof Ericsson, graduated from ...

, President of the EOC –

Jacques Rogge Jacques Jean Marie Rogge, Count Rogge (, ; 2 May 1942 – 29 August 2021) was a Belgian sports administrator and physician who served as the eighth President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 2001 to 2013. In 2013, Rogge bec ...

and Secretary General of the EOC and

Italian National Olympic Committee The Italian National Olympic Committee ( it, Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano, CONI), founded in 1914 and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is responsible for the development and management of sports activity in Italy. ...

– Mario Pescante. The

1992 Winter Olympics ) , nations = 64 , athletes = 1,801 (1313 men, 488 women) , events = 57 in 6 sports (12 disciplines) , opening = 8 February 1992 , closing = 23 February 1992 , opened_by = President François Mitterrand , cauldron ...

Albertville Albertville (; Arpitan: ''Arbèrtvile'') is a subprefecture of the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in Southeastern France. It is best known for hosting the 1992 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. In 2018, the commune had ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

was the first time since 1936 that the nation had competed as an independent nation at the Olympic Games. In the Games between, the Estonian athletes competed under the flag of the

Structure

;Members ''Updated 15 April 2016.'' Members of the Estonian Olympic Committee are: *102 legal persons under private law: **66 National Sports Federations **19 Regional Sports Associations **17 All-Estonian Sports Associations *19 natural persons: Mati Alaver, (EOK member since 1999)

Jüri Jaanson Jüri Jaanson (born 14 October 1965) is the most successful Estonian rower of all time and the winner of five medals at World Rowing Championships. He became World Champion in Tasmania 1990 in the single sculls event. 14 years later, at age 3 ...

Gerd Kanter Gerd Kanter (born 6 May 1979) is a retired Estonian discus throw The discus throw (), also known as disc throw, is a track and field event in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance th ...

Tõnu Laak, (1989) Andres Lipstok, (1994) Erki Nool Neinar Seli Tiit Nuudi, (1992) Gunnar Paal ( :et), (1989)

Indrek Pertelson Indrek Pertelson (born 21 April 1971) is an Estonian judoka. At the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics he won bronze medals in the men's Heavyweight (+100 kg) category. He was born in Tallinn Tallinn () is the most populous and capital cit ...

, (2000) Cardo Remmel, (1999)

Erika Salumäe Erika Salumäe (born 11 June 1962) is an Estonian track bicycle racer who won the first Olympic gold medal for Estonia after the country regained independence in 1991. Salumäe was born in Pärnu, Estonia. She trained at VSS Kalev in Tallinn ...

, (1997)

Mart Siimann Mart Siimann (born 21 September 1946) was the Prime Minister of Estonia from 1997 to 1999, representing the liberal/centrist Estonian Coalition Party.

, (1999)

Kristina Šmigun Kristina may refer to: Places *the Swedish name of Ristiina, a town in Finland People *the Swedish name of Christina of Sweden * Kristina (born 1987), Slovak singer *Kristina Adolphson (born 1937), Swedish actress *Kristina Apgar (born 1985), Amer ...

Jaan Talts Jaan Talts (born 19 May 1944) is a former Estonian weightlifter. He competed for the Soviet Union at the 1968 and 1972 Olympics and won a silver and a gold medal, respectively. Throughout his career, Talts won two world and four European titles ...

, (1989) Mart Tarmak, (1989) Toomas Tõnise, (1992)

Jaak Uudmäe Jaak Uudmäe (born 3 September 1954) is an Estonian former triple jumper and long jumper who competed for the Soviet Union. He was the gold medalist at the 1980 Summer Olympics. He set a personal best of in his Olympic victory – a mark which ...

, (1989) Andrus Veerpalu, (2000) ;Former natural members *

Mikk Mikiver Mikk Mikiver (4 September 1937 – 9 January 2006) was a prominent Estonian stage and film actor and theater director. Biography Mikiver was born in Tallinn, Estonia. He graduated from the State Conservatory of Tallinn in 1961. He then went on ...

(1937–2006) (EOK member 1989–2006) * Aado Slutsk (1918–2006) (EOK member 1989–2006)

Current NOC leadership

''Updated 15 April 2016.'' ; President * Urmas Sõõrumaa ; Vice President *

Jüri Tamm Jüri Tamm (5 February 1957 – 22 September 2021) was an Estonian hammer thrower and politician. Representing the USSR, he won a bronze medal in the 1980 and 1988 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics. ...

* Tõnu Tõniste ; Secretary General * Siim Sukles ; Executive Committee 17 members incl. EOK President, 2 Vice Presidents and Secretary General. * Urmas Sõõrumaa – EOK President *

– Vice President * Tõnu Tõniste – Vice President *

Urmas Paet Urmas Paet (born 20 April 1974) is an Estonian politician and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Estonia. He is a member of the Reform Party, part of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. He has served as Minister of Fore ...

– President of the Estonian Paralympic Committee * Anne Rei – General Secretary of the

Estonian Football Association The Estonian Football Association (EJL; et, Eesti Jalgpalli Liit) is the governing body of football, beach soccer and futsal in Estonia, established on 14 December 1921. It organizes the football league, including the championship which is calle ...

* Karol Kovanen – President of the Estonian Badminton Federation and Estonian Swimming Federation * Oliver Kruuda – President of the Estonian Handball Association * Toomas Tõnise – Vice-President 2012–2016, General Secretary 2000-2012 of the Estonian Olympic Committee * Marko Kaljuveer – President of the Estonian Golf Association *

Riho Terras Riho Terras (born 17 April 1967) is an Estonian politician and a former military officer who is serving as a member of the European Parliament since 1 February 2020. He was the Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces from 2011 to 2018. He w ...

– Commander-in-Chief of the

Estonian Defence Forces The Estonian Defence Forces ( et, Eesti Kaitsevägi) are the unified military forces of the Republic of Estonia. The Estonian Defence Forces consist of the Estonian Land Forces, the Estonian Navy, the Estonian Air Force, and the paramilitary E ...

* Reet Hääl – Member of the Board of the Estonian Ski Association and Estonian Tennis Association *

Hanno Pevkur Hanno Pevkur (born 2 April 1977) is an Estonian politician who is currently the Minister of Defence. He is the former chairman of the Estonian Reform Party. He has served as the Minister of Social Affairs from 2009 to 2012, as the Minister of ...

– President of the Estonian Volleyball Federation * Mati Alaver – Member of the Board of the Estonian Trainers' Association *

Helir-Valdor Seeder Helir-Valdor Seeder (born 7 September 1964) is an Estonian politician. He is a member of the parliament, current chairman of the Isamaa and served as Minister of Agriculture from 2007 to 2014. Seeder has a master's degree in economics from the E ...

– President of the Estonian Sports Association Jõud and member of the Board Estonian Handball Association *

Mihhail Kõlvart Mihhail Kõlvart (born 24 November 1977) is an Estonian politician. He is the current mayor of Tallinn, Estonia, a position he has held since April 2019, after the resignation of Taavi Aas. Life Kõlvart was born in Kyzylorda, Kazakh SSR, t ...

– President of the Estonian Taekwondo Federation and Estonian Fighting Sports Association ( et, Eesti Võitlusspordi Ühendus) * Erki Nool – President of the Estonian Olympic Champions Network *

Kristjan Järvi Kristjan Järvi (, alternate (U.S.) spelling: Kristian Järvi) (born 13 June 1972, Tallinn) is an Estonian American conductor, composer and producer born in Estonia, younger son of the conductor Neeme Järvi and brother of conductor Paavo Järv ...

– Conductor and pianist. Advisor to the Kammerorchester Basel and the conductor and founder of the Baltic Youth Philharmonic. Since 2011 chief conductor of the

MDR Symphony Orchestra MDR may refer to: Biology * MDR1, an ATP-dependent cellular efflux pump affording multiple drug resistance * Mammalian Diving reflex * Medical device reporting * Multiple drug resistance, when a microorganism has become resistant to multiple drug ...

– Leader of the Estonian Athletes' Commission

List of presidents

* Karl Friedrich Akel (1924–1931) – EOK Chairman *

Johan Laidoner Johan Laidoner ( – 13 March 1953) was an Estonian general and statesman. He served as Commander‑in‑Chief of the Estonian Armed Forces during the 1918–1920 Estonian War of Independence and was among the most influential people in the Eston ...

(1931–1934) – EOK Cochairman * Johan Laidoner (1934–1940) – EOK Chairman * Arnold Green (1989–1997) – EOK President * Tiit Nuudi (1997–2001) – EOK President *

Mart Siimann Mart Siimann (born 21 September 1946) was the Prime Minister of Estonia from 1997 to 1999, representing the liberal/centrist Estonian Coalition Party.

(2001-2012) – EOK President * Neinar Seli (2012–2016) - EOK President * Urmas Sõõrumaa (2016–present) - EOK President

IOC members

* Karl Friedrich Akel (1927–1932) * Joakim Puhk (1936–1942)

Honorary members

* Arnold Green – Honorary president, former EOK member (1989–1999) and President of the EOK (1989–1997) * Tiit Nuudi – Honorary president, former EOK member (1992– ) and President of the EOK (1997–2001) *

August Englas August Englas (15 January 1925 – 21 March 2017) was an Estonian wrestler who competed for the Soviet Union. Englas was born in Otepää. In the 1952 Summer Olympics, after defeating Adil Atan, Shirang Vithoba Jadav and Max Leichter, ...

– sportwrestling world champion 1953 & 1954 *

Svetlana Tširkova-Lozovaja Svetlana Tširkova (from 1980, Tširkova-Lozovaja) (russian: Светлана Михайловна Чиркова-Лозовая) (born November 5, 1945, Tupner, Tsivilsky District, Chuvash ASSR, Soviet Union) is a former Soviet fencer, two-t ...

– Olympic champion 1968 * Aavo Pikkuus – Olympic champion 1976 * Mait Riisman – Olympic champion 1980 *

– Olympic champion 1988 & 1992 * Oleg Sapožnin – former EOK member (1992–2001) and member of the Executive Committee * Heino Sisask – former EOK member (1992–1999) *

Tiit Sokk Tiit Sokk (born 15 November 1964) is a retired Estonian professional basketball player and current coach. Often cited as one of the very best European point guards of his generation, he is widely recognized as the greatest Estonian basketball p ...

– Olympic champion 1988 * Ivar Stukolkin – Olympic champion 1980 *

– Olympic champion 1972 * Jüri Tarmak – Olympic champion 1972 *

– Olympic champion 1980 * Lembit Vahesaar – former EOK member (1992–2000) * – former EOK member (1992–2016) * Rein Haljand – former EOK member (1992–2000) ; Former honorary members *

Johannes Kotkas Johannes Kotkas (3 February 1915 – 8 May 1998) was a heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestler from Estonia who won a gold medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics. He held the European title in 1938, 1939 and 1947 and placed second at the 1953 world champion ...

(1915–1998) * Heino Lipp (1922–2006) * Ruudi Toomsalu (1913–2002) * Bruno Junk (1929–1995) * Heino Lind (1931–2008) – former EOK member (1992–2001 ) and member of the Executive Committee * Viljar Loor (1953-2011), Olympic champion 1980 *

Ants Antson Ants Antson (11 November 1938 – 31 October 2015) was an Estonian speed skater who competed for the Soviet Union. Biography Antson trained at the Kalev Voluntary Sports Society. Coached by former World, Olympic, and European Champion Boris ...

(1938-2015), Olympic champion 1964 ;Other notable members Juhan Aare 1992–1997, Are Eller 1992–1993, Peeter Mardna 1992–2001, Mati Mark 1992–2001, Even Tudeberg 2000–2001, Ants Veetõusme 1992–2001, Priit Vilba 1994–2000, Atko Viru 1989–2007

References

External links

Estonian Olympic Committee Official SiteIOC-s information page of the NOCEstonian Olympic Academy
{{Authority control National Olympic Committees

Olympic Olympic or Olympics may refer to Sports Competitions * Olympic Games, international multi-sport event held since 1896 ** Summer Olympic Games ** Winter Olympic Games * Ancient Olympic Games, ancient multi-sport event held in Olympia, Greece b ...

Estonia at the Olympics Sports organizations of Estonia 1923 establishments in Estonia Sports organizations established in 1923