The highest award in the Olympic Movement 'Olympic Order' was established in:

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is (1):

The correct option is (1): The Olympic Order, which is the Olympic Movement's most prestigious award, was officially instituted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in May 1975. This establishment occurred under the presidency of Lord Killanin, following a period of re-evaluation of the Olympic Movement’s structure and values. The Order is awarded to individuals who have achieved outstanding merit in the cause of sport and who have displayed exceptional devotion to the Olympic ideal. It is a symbol of recognition for profound contributions to the Olympic Movement, and while originally divided into three grades (Gold, Silver, and Bronze), it is now typically awarded in Silver, unless otherwise specified, making the 1975 date the correct answer for its founding.

The incorrect option is (2):
The option April 1896 is historically significant, as it marks the opening of the first modern Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, after their revival by Baron Pierre de Coubertin. However, this date relates to the commencement of the Games themselves, not the creation of the highest honour awarded by the IOC. The Olympic Order was established almost eighty years after the first modern Games, demonstrating that the Olympic Movement waited many decades before establishing this specific, top-tier institutional award for outstanding merit. The focus of the first Games was on competition and international unity, while the Olympic Order is an administrative and recognition tool. Therefore, 1896 is the birth of the modern Games, not the award.

The incorrect option is (3):
August 2016 is too recent to be the establishment date of the Olympic Order. The year 2016 is primarily associated with the Summer Olympic Games held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. By this time, the Olympic Order had been regularly conferred for over four decades, recognising the service of many influential figures in sports administration and education. While the award would certainly have been conferred to deserving individuals during the 2016 Games, the award itself was well-established long before this date.

The incorrect option is (4):
September 1920 is historically important for the Olympic Movement, as it corresponds with the Antwerp Games following the First World War. This period is noted for the introduction of important symbols like the official Olympic flag, featuring the five rings, and the first recital of the Olympic Oath by an athlete. While this was a major moment of renewal and institutionalisation, the highest individual honour, the Olympic Order, was not created until the mid-1970s. This option reflects an early, but not the definitive, moment in the codification of Olympic symbolism and protocol.