The Olympic games were inscribed in history by the Ancient Greeks, who held athletic contests in honour of Zeus at the Olympia Temple in the Peloponnese in the 8th century BC. Athletes competed for gods, glory, and themselves; not for money. The games had survived the Greek wars, the Hellenistic Period and the Roman conquest, but their existence was cut short by Roman Emperor Theodosius at the end of the 4th century. 

The initiator of the modern, cosmopolitan Olympic Games was a Frenchman, Pierre de Coubertin. On his initiative, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was established in 1894, a member of which is also the Olympic Committee of Slovenia. 

The country’s declaration of independence on 25 June 1991 was a new beginning for Slovenian sport and its institutional organisation too. New circumstances required quick solutions. Already on 27 June, the Sports Federation of Slovenia issued a "recommendation" on postponing all sports competitions in the territory of the Republic of Slovenia and advised Slovenian athletes not to participate in competitions outside Slovenia for safety reasons. 

On 28 June, a "call" to Slovenian athletes followed, urging them, in view of the "brutal aggression of the Yugoslav Army", to "leave Yugoslav national teams and return home as soon as possible, as it would be offensive to the Slovenian people if Slovenian athletes were to defend the colours of Yugoslavia at international competitions in such circumstances". And return they did. At the same time, Slovenian sports professionals resigned their positions in Yugoslav sporting bodies and Slovenian federations for various sporting disciplines terminated their relations with their Yugoslav counterparts.

Even before that time, discussions had been underway about a new organisation of sport in Slovenia, weighing between two ideas – whether to have one main organisation or the national Olympic committee and separate sports association. The preparations for the establishment of the Olympic Committee of Slovenia - Sport Societies Association began already in June 1991. Thus the path was paved for international recognition and participation of Slovenian athletes at 1992 Winter Olympic Games in Albertville.  

At the 89th IOC Session on 5 February 1992 in Courchevel, the Olympic Committee of Slovenia became a recognised member of the international Olympic family.