---
kind: "section"
citation: "36 U.S.C. § 220504"
title: "36"
title_heading: "Patriotic and National Observances, Ceremonies, and Organizations"
number: "220504"
heading: "Membership"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/36/220504"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Patriotic and National Organizations"
  - "Part B — Organizations"
  - "Chapter 2205 — United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee"
  - "Subchapter I — Corporation"
---

# §220504. Membership

- (a) **Eligibility.—** Eligibility for membership in the [corporation](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-7) is as provided in the constitution and bylaws of the [corporation](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-7), and membership shall be available only to [national governing bodies](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-9).
- (b) **Required Provisions for Representation.—** In its constitution and bylaws, the [corporation](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-7) shall establish and maintain provisions with respect to its governance and the conduct of its affairs for reasonable representation of—
  - (1) [national governing bodies](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-9), including through provisions that establish and maintain a [National Governing Bodies](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-9)’ Council that is composed of representatives of the [national governing bodies](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-9) who are selected by their boards of directors or other governing boards to ensure effective communication between the [corporation](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-7) and the [national governing bodies](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-9);
  - (2) [amateur athletes](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-1) who are actively engaged in [amateur athletic competition](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-2) or who have represented the United States in [international amateur athletic competition](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-8), including through provisions that—
    - (A) establish and maintain an Athletes’ Advisory Council;
    - (B) ensure that the chair of the Athletes’ Advisory Council, or the designee of the chair, holds voting power on the board of directors of the [corporation](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-7) and in the committees and entities of the [corporation](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-7);
    - (C) require that—
      - (i) not less than ⅓ of the membership of the board of directors of the [corporation](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-7) shall be composed of, and elected by, such [amateur athletes](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-1); and
      - (ii) not less than 20 percent of the membership of the board of directors of the [corporation](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-7) shall be composed of [amateur athletes](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-1) who—
        - (I) are actively engaged in representing the United States in [international amateur athletic competition](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-8); or
        - (II) have represented the United States in [international amateur athletic competition](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-8) during the preceding 10-year period; and
    - (D) ensure that the membership and voting power held by such [amateur athletes](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-1) is not less than ⅓ of the membership and voting power held in the board of directors of the [corporation](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-7) and in the committees and entities of the [corporation](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-7), including any panel empowered to resolve grievances;
  - (3) [amateur sports organizations](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-3) that conduct a national program or regular national [amateur athletic competition](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-2) in 2 or more sports that are included on the program of the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games, the Pan-American Games, or the Parapan American Games on a level of proficiency appropriate for the selection of [amateur athletes](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-1) to represent the United States in [international amateur athletic competition](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-8); and
  - (4) individuals not affiliated or associated with any [amateur sports organization](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-3) who, in the [corporation](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-7)’s judgment, represent the interests of the American public in the activities of the [corporation](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-7).
- (c) **Conflict of Interest.—** An athlete who represents athletes under [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2) shall not be employed by the [Center](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-5), or serve in a capacity that exercises decision-making authority on behalf of the [Center](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-5), during the 2-year period beginning on the date on which the athlete ceases such representation.
- (d) **Certification Requirements.—** The bylaws of the [corporation](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-7) shall include a description of all generally applicable certification requirements for membership in the [corporation](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-7).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 105–225, Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1467; Pub. L. 105–277, div. C, title I, § 142(e), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–603; Pub. L. 116–189, §§ 4(a)(4), 6(b), 7(a)(2)(A)(i), Oct. 30, 2020, 134 Stat. 945, 948, 956.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 220504 | 36:376. | Sept. 21, 1950, ch. 975, title I, § 106, as added Nov. 8, 1978, Pub. L. 95–606, § 1(b), 92 Stat. 3048. |

In subsection (a), the words “is as provided in” are substituted for “shall be determined in accordance with” for consistency in the revised title.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2020—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–189, § 6(b)(1), inserted “, and membership shall be available only to national governing bodies” before period at end.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 116–189, § 7(a)(2)(A)(i), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: “amateur sports organizations recognized as national governing bodies and paralympic sports organizations in accordance with section 220521 of this title, including through provisions which establish and maintain a National Governing Bodies’ Council composed of representatives of the national governing bodies and any paralympic sports organizations and selected by their boards of directors or such other governing boards to ensure effective communication between the corporation and such national governing bodies and paralympic sports organizations;”.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 116–189, § 6(b)(2), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “amateur athletes who are actively engaged in amateur athletic competition or who have represented the United States in international amateur athletic competition within the preceding 10 years, including through provisions which—

“(A) establish and maintain an Athletes’ Advisory Council composed of, and elected by, such amateur athletes to ensure communication between the corporation and such amateur athletes; and

“(B) ensure that the membership and voting power held by such amateur athletes is not less than 20 percent of the membership and voting power held in the board of directors of the corporation and in the committees and entities of the corporation;”.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 116–189, § 4(a)(4), substituted “the Pan-American Games, or the Parapan American Games” for “or the Pan-American Games”.

Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 116–189, § 6(b)(3), added subsecs. (c) and (d).

1998—Subsec. (b)(1), (2). Pub. L. 105–277, § 142(e)(1), added pars. (1) and (2) and struck out former pars. (1) and (2) which read as follows:

“(1) amateur sports organizations recognized as national governing bodies under section 220521 of this title;

“(2) amateur athletes who are actively engaged in amateur athletic competition or who have represented the United States in international amateur athletic competition within the preceding 10 years;”.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 105–277, § 142(e)(2), inserted “, the Paralympic Games,” after “Olympic Games”.