Soviet Olympic Committee
The National Olympic Committee of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was the government-funded organization representing the Soviet Union in the International Olympic Committee. The NOC USSR organized Soviet participation at the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee recognized the NOC USSR on May 7, 1951 at the 45th session of the IOC. Prior to the 1950s, the Soviet Union refused to participate in the Olympics on ideological grounds.Presidents
