iem , ▁a ▁leading ▁figure ▁in ▁the ▁German ▁sports ▁movement , ▁and ▁Io ann is ▁K et se as , ▁Member ▁of ▁IO C ▁proposed ▁establish ing ▁this ▁center ▁in ▁Greece . ▁ ▁It ▁would ▁be ▁based ▁on ▁the ▁Institute ▁of ▁Olympic ▁Studies ▁in ▁Berlin . ▁However , ▁the ▁on set ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁stopped ▁any ▁further ▁action . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 9 , ▁the ▁IO C ▁approved ▁K et se as ' ▁proposal ▁for ▁the ▁IO A . ▁ ▁The ▁IO A ▁finally ▁acquired ▁its ▁first ▁legal ▁person ality ▁as ▁an ▁H OC ▁Commission ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 5 . ▁ ▁After ▁appro val ▁by ▁the ▁General ▁Assembly ▁of ▁the ▁IO C , ▁the ▁IO A ▁began ▁its ▁first ▁Session ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 1 . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 1 , ▁the ▁IO A ▁became ▁a ▁private ▁legal ▁entity , ▁acqu iring ▁an ▁oper ational ▁aut onomy , ▁with ▁the ▁financial ▁support ▁of ▁the ▁Greek ▁government ▁and ▁the ▁IO C . ▁Setting ▁as ▁its ▁mil estone ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁Olympic ▁Games , ▁the ▁Academy ▁adopted ▁a ▁different ▁pace ; ▁opening ▁the ▁doors ▁of ▁its ▁facilities ▁to ▁events ▁with ▁an ▁Olympic ▁objective , ▁while ▁still ▁maintain ing ▁a ▁conserv ative ▁approach ▁with ▁respect ▁to ▁its ▁true ▁potential . ▁ ▁National ▁Olympic ▁Academ ies ▁Under ▁President ▁Juan ▁Antonio ▁Sam ar anch , ▁the ▁IO C ▁encourag ed ▁the ▁foundation ▁of ▁National ▁Olympic ▁Academ ies ▁( NO C s ) ▁around ▁world ▁to