# Estonian Olympic Committee

The Estonian Olympic Committee (Estonian: Eesti Olümpiakomitee, EOK) is responsible for Estonia's participation in the Olympic Games.

## History

The Estonian Sports Federation (Estonian: Eesti Spordi Liit) decided to form the Estonian Olympic Committee in the First Estonian Sport Congress (Estonian: 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 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, at the board session in Berlin on 18 September 1991, the EOK was reintegrated into the Olympic Movement on 11 November 1991.
In 1992 the IOC delegation led by president Juan Antonio Samaranch visited Estonia. Delegation members included Vice President of the IOC and Russian Olympic Committee president – Vitali Smirnov, IOC and Swedish Olympic Committee member – Gunnar Ericsson, President of the EOC – Jacques Rogge and Secretary General of the EOC and Italian National Olympic Committee – Mario Pescante.
The 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France 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 Soviet Union.

## 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, Gerd Kanter, Tõnu Laak (1989), Andres Lipstok (1994), Erki Nool, Neinar Seli, Tiit Nuudi (1992), Gunnar Paal (:et) (1989), Indrek Pertelson (2000), Cardo Remmel (1999), Erika Salumäe (1997), Mart Siimann (1999), Kristina Šmigun, Jaan Talts (1989), Mart Tarmak (1989), Toomas Tõnise (1992), Jaak Uudmäe (1989), Andrus Veerpalu (2000).

### Former natural members

* Mikk Mikiver (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
* Tõnu Tõniste

#### Secretary General

* Siim Sukles

#### Executive Committee

17 members incl. EOK President, 2 Vice Presidents and Secretary General.
* Urmas Sõõrumaa – EOK President
* Jüri Tamm – Vice President
* Tõnu Tõniste – Vice President
* Urmas Paet – President of the Estonian Paralympic Committee
* Anne Rei – General Secretary of the Estonian Football Association
* 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 – Commander-in-Chief of the Estonian Defence Forces
* Reet Hääl – Member of the Board of the Estonian Ski Association and Estonian Tennis Association
* Hanno Pevkur – President of the Estonian Volleyball Federation
* Mati Alaver – Member of the Board of the Estonian Trainers' Association
* Helir-Valdor Seeder – President of the Estonian Sports Association Jõud and member of the Board Estonian Handball Association
* Mihhail Kõlvart – President of the Estonian Taekwondo Federation and Estonian Fighting Sports Association (Estonian: Eesti Võitlusspordi Ühendus)
* Erki Nool – President of the Estonian Olympic Champions Network
* Kristjan Järvi – 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
* Gerd Kanter – Leader of the Estonian Athletes' Commission

### List of presidents

* Karl Friedrich Akel (1924–1931) – EOK Chairman
* Johan Laidoner (1931–1934) – EOK Cochairman
* Johan Laidoner (1934–1940) – EOK Chairman
* Arnold Green (1989–1997) – EOK President
* Tiit Nuudi (1997–2001) – EOK President
* Mart Siimann (2001–2012) – EOK President
* Neinar Seli (2012–2016) – EOK President
* Urmas Sõõrumaa (2016–2021) – EOK President
* Kersti Kaljulaid (2021–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 – sportwrestling world champion 1953 & 1954
* Svetlana Tširkova-Lozovaja – Olympic champion 1968
* Aavo Pikkuus – Olympic champion 1976
* Mait Riisman – Olympic champion 1980
* Erika Salumäe – 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 – Olympic champion 1988
* Ivar Stukolkin – Olympic champion 1980
* Jaan Talts – Olympic champion 1972
* Jüri Tarmak – Olympic champion 1972
* Jaak Uudmäe – Olympic champion 1980
* Lembit Vahesaar – former EOK member (1992–2000)
* Sven Kolga [et] – former EOK member (1992–2016)
* Rein Haljand – former EOK member (1992–2000)

#### Former honorary members

* Johannes Kotkas (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 (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