International Olympic Day is annually observed across the world on 23rd June as a day to promote the Olympic Movement. The day also celebrates the founding of the International Olympic Committee(IOC) at the Sorbonne, Paris, on 23rd June 1894, where the Olympic games were revived by Baron Pierre de Coubertin.
The theme of 2022 International Olympic Day is “Together, For a Peaceful World” and it is accompanied by #MoveForPeace and #OlympicDay.
- Together, For a Peaceful World was introduced as a new pillar of the Olympic Day.
Background:
i.In 1947, Dr Josef Gruss member of the IOC from Czechoslovakia proposed to organise an event to commemorate the founding of the Modern Olympic movement and to promote Olympic ideals.
ii.At the 42nd IOC Session in St Moritz, Switzerland in January 1948, the members of the IOC adopted the project of a World Olympic Day.
Olympic Day in Charter:
i.The observance of the Olympic Day was first recommended in the 1978 edition of the Olympic Charter.
ii.The first-ever Olympic Day was celebrated on 23rd June 1948 by 9 National Olympic Committees(NOC) – Austria, Belgium, Canada, Great Britain, Greece, Portugal, Switzerland, Uruguay and Venezuela – in their respective countries.
iii.The idea to celebrate the week by organising events for a whole week was added to the 1990 version of the Olympic Charter.
What is the Olympic Movement?
Olympic Movement is the concerted, organised, universal and permanent action, carried out under the supreme authority of the IOC, of all individuals and entities who are inspired by the values of Olympism.
Events:
i.NOCs organise the events of the Olympic Day 2022 based on the pillars of “Move, learn, discover – Together for a better world”,
ii.The events include sports, cultural and educational activities for all regardless of age, gender, social background or sporting ability.
Olympic Run:
i.The IOC Sports for all commissions launched the concept of the Olympic Run in 1987 to encourage the NOCs to celebrate Olympic Day and to promote the practice of sports.
ii.45 NOCs from across the globe took part in the first Olympic Day Run in 1987.
- 2022 marks the 36th Olympic Run.
About International Olympic Committee (IOC):
President– Thomas Bach
Headquarters– Lausanne, Switzerland
