Olympic Day commemorates the founding of the International Olympic Committee on 23 June 1894 by Baron Pierre de Coubertin. Every year International Olympic Day is observed on June 23. The day is celebrated for sports and health, where people associated with sports come together to promote and practice mass sports. It also provides support for a wide range of sports, cultural and educational activities that allow people to show their talent. The day brings people together for a better world ahead.
INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC DAY 2022: HISTORY
The history of this day lies in the 42nd IOC Session in St Moritz.
In the year 1948, doctor Gruss, a Czech IOC member, represented the idea of World Olympic day at the 41st session of the International Olympic Committee in Stockholm, Sweden.
The day is based on the idea of the Olympic movement. And it celebrates the founding of the IOC at Sorbonne Paris on June 23, 1894, where Pierre de Coubertin revived the Olympic Games.
The National Olympic Committee (NOC) created this event, which marks a special moment in the history of the Olympic movement.
INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC DAY 2022: SIGNIFICANCE
The day plays a significant role as it motivates people to participate in games and spread awareness of various sports-related activities.
NOC organizes events that cover 150 countries, which comprises Olympic Day runs.
Schools and institutions mark the event by guiding individuals to imbibe the value of sports in day-to-day lives.
Significance of International Olympic Day
The National Olympic Committees all over the globe mark the day to encourage people to participate more in sports regardless of gender, age, and social background. The Olympic movement is based on three pillars- move, learn and discover. The main motto behind celebrating the day is to spread awareness about staying healthy, strong and active. Nowadays, several institutions and non-governmental organisations celebrate the day by organising sporting events and inviting people to take part in any kind of game.
INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC DAY 2022: THEME
This year's Olympic Day theme is ‘Together for a Peaceful World’.
When was the first Olympic Day?
The first ever Olympic Day was celebrated on 23 June 1948.
Portugal, Greece, Austria, Canada, Switzerland, Great Britain, Uruguay, Venezuela and Belgium organised an Olympic Day in their respective countries and Sigfrid Edström, IOC President at the time, relayed a message to the young people of the world.
In the 1978 edition of the Olympic Charter, the IOC recommended for the first time that all NOCs organise an Olympic Day to promote the Olympic Movement.
Currently, the Olympic Charter reads: “It is recommended that NOCs regularly organise – if possible each year – an Olympic Day or Week intended to promote the Olympic Movement.”
What do people do on Olympic Day?
National Olympic Committees are getting creative worldwide with their Olympic Day events to engage everybody – regardless of age, gender, social background or sporting ability.
Some countries have even incorporated the event into the school curriculum.
Everybody can be part of Olympic Day, and with so many people doing so many things on Olympic Day, why not join the fun?
These days many people organise Olympic Day runs all over the world to celebrate, including one in the Olympic Capital of Lausanne, where the IOC is based.
First launched in 1987, the run was about encouraging all National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to celebrate Olympic Day and promoting the practice of mass sport.
It's been a huge success, growing from 45 participating NOCs in the first edition in 1987, to more than a hundred participating NOCs.
Why not look up your nearest Olympic Day run? Or otherwise, simply get active with your friends – or even by yourself – and #MoveForPeace.
INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC DAY 2022: QUOTES
“Never buy gold, simply earn it”- Mary Kom
“People throw stones at you, and you convert them into milestones”- Sachin Tendulkar
“The glory is being happy. The glory is not winning here or winning there. The glory is enjoying practicing every day, trying to be a better player than before”- Rafael Nadal
“You got to try and reach for the stars or try and achieve the unreachable”- Cathy Freeman
“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. Michael Jordan
Source :-
https://olympics.com/en/news/olympic-day-2022-celebration-olympic-movement-founding-move-for-peace