 He sought to defend the Olympic movement and raise its profile on his numerous trips and meetings with heads of state and sports leaders.In 1981, he obtained for the IOC the status of non-governmental international organisation and became the first IOC President, after Pierre de Coubertin, to establish himself in Lausanne.He was also in favour of the integration of women into the Olympic Movement, and during the Baden-Baden Congress gained permission for women to become members of the IOC.