International Olympic Day 2021: Olympics is a leading international sports events featuring summer and winter sports competitions. Thousands of athletes from around the world take part in a variety of competitions. The creation of the modern-day Olympic games is inspired by the ancient Olympic Games held in Olympia, Greece, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894, leading to the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896.
International Olympic Day – 23rd June 2021
The IOC is the Olympic movement’s governing body, with the Olympic Charter defining its structure and authority. To promote participation in sport across the globe regardless of age, gender or athletic ability, International Olympic Day was introduced in 1948. International Olympic Day is celebrated on 23rd June annually to commemorate the birth of the Modern Olympic Games.
International Olympic Day 2021 – History
During the 41st Session of the International Olympic Committee in Stockholm, the year 1947, Doctor Gruss, an International Olympic Committee member in Czechoslovakia, presented a report about the celebration of Olympic Day. The initial design was to promote the Olympic idea and encourage more and more participation. The project was adopted one year later on the occasion of the 42nd IOC Session in St. Moritz in January 1948.
The National Olympic Committee was in charge of organizing the events for this day and asked to choose between 17th and 24th June. The organizing committee finally decided that the International Olympic Day will be celebrated on 23rd June annually, thereby honouring the International Olympic Committee’s foundation at the Sorbonne, Paris. On this day, Pierre de Coubertin obtained the revival of the Olympic games.
The first Olympic Day was celebrated on 23rd June in the year 1948. On this occasion, Sigfrid Edstrom, President of the International Olympic Committee at that time, conveyed a speech to young people worldwide, encouraging as much participation as possible.
World Olympic Day 2021 Significance
International Olympic Day’s significance is to encourage more people to participate in the Olympic games and spread awareness about the number of sporting events held during this event. In the 1978 edition of the Olympic charter, the International Olympic Committee recommended that all NOC’s organize an Olympic day every year and promote the Olympic Movement.
What is Olympic Day Run?
Olympic Day Run is a movement activity organized worldwide, promoting mass participation of sports held in June. The International Olympic Committee organizes a run. The objective is to promote participation in sports by men, women and children from all corners of the world regardless of athletic ability. The first Olympic run was held in 1987, over 10 km, with 45 NOC’s participating in it. By the year 2006, about 161 National Olympic Committees promoted this run to their county men.
The Olympic Day Run is held between 17th to 24th June by the National Olympic Committees. There is a 1.5 km fun run that gets organized. World Olympic Day is not confined only to sports activities. It is a serious international effort to promote fitness and well – being in addition to Olympic ideals of Fair play, Solidarity, Respect and Sportsmanship across the globe.
World Olympic Day is based on the three pillars Move, Learn and Discover. NOC’s are deploying sports, cultural and educational activities that address everybody regardless of age, gender, social background, or sporting ability. In some countries, the event is incorporated into the school curriculum. Many NOC’s have added concerts and exhibitions as a part of the Olympic day in recent years.
India has been an active participant in the Olympics for many years. India first participated in the Olympics in the year 1900. Though there has been participating for many years, India had not received a decent medal until recent times. In recent years India has left its mark in the Olympic. NOC in India also organizes the Olympic Day Run every year and encourages more people to participate in sporting events.