International Olympic Day 2023

“Sport always builds bridges and brings people together in peace and solidarity”. 

What is International Olympic Day?

International Olympic Day will be celebrated on June 23, 2023, when people from around the world; young and old participate in sports activities such as Runs, Exhibitions, Music, and Educational seminars.

When is International Olympic Day celebrated?

International Olympic Day is celebrated on June 23 each year and it was first observed in 1948. The Olympics is the world’s largest international multi-sport event held every four years. Thousands of athletes and sportspersons from all across the world take part in various games and sports. The modern Olympics is inspired by the Greek’s ancient Olympic games held in Olympia, from the eighth century B.C. to the fourth century A.D. The first modern summer Olympic Games were held in 1896 in Athens, Greece. Since its foundation, International Olympic Day has widened its audience and has adapted to various local specificities.

Timeline For Olympic Day

776 B.C.

First Olympic Day – The world’s First Olympic Games are held in Olympia, Greece 

1896

First Modern Olympic Games – the world’s first modern Olympic Games are held in Athens, Greece.

1920 

Olympic Oath – The idea of the Olympic Oath is introduced.

1929 

 Inauguration of the Olympic Flam –  The Olympic Flame or the Olympic torch is inaugurated in the Olympic Games.

History of Olympic Day

Olympic Day was introduced in 1949 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games on 23rd June 1894 at the Sorbonne in Paris. The goal was to promote participation in sports across the globe regardless of age, gender, or athletic ability. Over the last 20 years Olympic Day has been associated with Olympic Day Runs all over the world. From 45 participating National Olympic Committees (NOCs) in the first edition in 1987, the numbers have grown to over 150 participating NOCs. What’s more, many of the participating NOCs are in Africa – proving the event’s worldwide appeal.

Significance of International Olympic Day

Olympic Day is celebrated to promote participation in sports across the world irrespective of gender, age, or athletic ability.

Olympic Day Run was introduced in 1987, to encourage more and more National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to participate and promote the idea of participation in sports by all, irrespective of their age: gender, and Nationality.

The first Olympic Day Run was held over a distance of 10 Km, with 45 participating NOCs. International Olympic Day 2023 has become more than just for sports as the NOCs worldwide are also organizing educational and cultural events which attract all people.

Why do the Olympics have 5 rings in it?

Based on a design first created by Pierre de Cobertin, the Olympic rings remain a global representation of the Olympic Movement and its activity. These five rings represent the five parts of the world now won over by to cause of Olympism and ready to accept its fecund rivalries.

World Olympic Day 2022

In 2022, the theme for Olympic Day was Together For a Peaceful World and is accompanied by the social media hashtags #MoveForPeace and #OlympicDay. 

Peace and sport in the Olympic Movement go back a long way and are manifested in the Olympic Truce during each Olympic Games. In more recent times, the International Olympic Committee also supports Refugee Athlete Scholarship and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team.

How we can celebrate International Olympic Day and make it memorable?

• Learn a new sport – You can use your time to learn a new sport that excites you the most.
• Watch a games documentary in a group – You can see sports documentaries to know about the world of sports and games.
• Enjoy the interviews of some of your favourite athletes.

Interesting Facts Related to the Olympics

• The first Olympic Games took palace in 776 BC and ended in 393 AD.
• Women were allowed to compete in the Olympics only in 1900.
• Only four athletes have won medals in both the Winter and the Summer Olympics.
• English and French are the official languages of the Olympic Games.
• Artists like painters, architects, writers, and musicians participated in the Olympics till 1949.
• The United States has hosted the Summer Olympics four times.

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