The International Olympic Committee (IOC; French: Comité international olympique, CIO) is an organization based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas on June 23 1894 to reinstate the Ancient Olympic Games held in Greece between 776 BC to 393 AD. Its membership is 203 National Olympic Committee. It is the committee to support and promote participation in sports throughout the world.