St. Vincent and the Grenadines became independent in 1979 and the interest in membership of the IOC took on greater significance. Under the leadership of Lennox Adams who was at the time President, the Athletics Association pushed for the establishment of a NOC.

In 1982, Lennox Adams and a small grouping of interested individuals from different sporting bodies began work in earnest on the establishment of the NOC. A constitution was drafted and duly approved. On 6^th January 1982 the NOC was officially established. At the time, the organization was called, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines National Olympic Association. By late January 1987, the NOC received formal acceptance as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).