International Olympic Day is annually observed across the globe on 23 June to promote participation and peace in sports across the globe regardless of age, gender, or athletic ability.
- This Day commemorates the founding of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the Sorbonne, Paris, on 23 June 1894, where Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the French Historian revived the Olympic Games of ancient Greece.
The 2024 theme of International Olympic Day is, “Let’s Move and Celebrate.”
Note:
i.The 2024 theme aims to ignite a collective enthusiasm for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games by encouraging people to connect through sports and encourage physical activity.
ii.The 2024 Summer Olympics is scheduled to be held from 24 July to 11 August 2024 in Paris (France) after 100 years. The last time Paris hosted the Summer Olympics was in 1924.
iii.In 1894, Pierre de Coubertin launched his plan to revive the Olympic Games, and in 1896 the 1st Games of the modern era were held in Athens, Greece.
Significance:
i.International Olympic Day promotes the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect through sports.
ii.It also serves as a reminder of the Olympic spirit and its potential to bring people together across cultural and national boundaries.
Background:
i.In 1947, during the 41st IOC Session in Stockholm (Sweden), Dr. Josef Gruss, a member of the IOC (1946-65) in Czechoslovakia proposed the concept of a World Olympic Day to promote the Olympic spirit.
ii.The idea was officially adopted during the 42nd IOC Session in St Moritz, Switzerland in January 1948. The 1st Olympic Day was celebrated on 23 June 1948 by 9 countries.
- Portugal, Greece, Austria, Canada, Switzerland, Great Britain, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Belgium organised an Olympic Day in their respective countries.
Rings of Olympics:
The five interlinked rings(blue, yellow, black, green and red) are the symbol of the Olympics. It was designed by Pierre de Coubertin in 1913.
Olympic Day in the Olympic Charter:
i.In the 1978 edition of the Olympic Charter, the IOC recommended for the 1st time, that all the NOCs organise Olympic Day annually, aimed at promoting the Olympic Movement globally.
ii.The charter recommends the NOCs regularly organise (if possible each year), an Olympic Day or Week intended to promote the Olympic Movement.
Olympic Day Run:
i.The Olympic Day Run began in 1987 as a key initiative to celebrate Olympic Day. It is organized by NOCs to encourage mass participation in sports.
ii.Starting with 45 NOCs in 1987, the event now includes more than 150 participating NOCs, highlighting its growing global reach and impact.
Let’s Move Campaign:
i.The Let’s Move campaign is an ongoing initiative spearheaded by the IOC. It was launched in 2023 in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).
ii.This global initiative inspired millions of people across the world to embrace an active lifestyle and encourage daily physical activity.
Global Participation Events of 2024:
NOCs worldwide to commemorate Olympic Day 2024 hosted events and digital activations, including:
i.Traditional Olympic Day Run in the Olympic Capital Lausanne, Switzerland.
ii.Let’s Move fan booths and 30 minutes of sports activity in Budapest, Hungary during the Olympic Qualifier Series (19-23 June 2024).
Note: The city of Lausanne was officially designated Olympic Capital in 1994 to coincide with the centenary of the IOC.
About the International Olympic Committee (IOC):
President– Thomas Bach
Headquarters– Lausanne, Switzerland
Motto – Citius, Altius, Fortius – Communiter or Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together
