International Olympic Day 2023: Celebration of a major sporting event connecting the nations

International Olympic Day is celebrated every year on June 23 by people, especially athletes and sportsperson, all over the world. The main objective of this special day is to commemorate the foundation of the International Olympic Committee on the same day in 1894. In addition to this, the day also aims to encourage youth to participate in sports activities. The Olympics is the largest international multi-sport event in the world featuring a plethora of games and sports. For more insightful details related to International Olympic Day 2023 such as its celebration, history, importance, etc, keep reading this article.

International Olympic Day 2023 Date

Below mentioned are the upcoming dates for International Olympic Day in 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027:

International Olympic Day 2023 Overview

Significance of International Olympic Day

The main purpose of observing International Olympics Day is to promote and spread awareness about the Olympic Movement, and to encourage more and more people to take part in the Olympic Games. But with time the day has developed into much more than just a sports-promoting event. Today Olympics Day has evolved into pillars of “Move, learn, discover – Together for a better world”.

Olympic Day Run

The Olympic Day Run is the core activity of Olympic Day that was launched in 1987. The run is organized by National Olympics Committees all over the globe to celebrate Olympic Day and promote the practice of mass sport. 45 nations participated in the first Olympic run held in 1987 which has increased to more than 150 nations at the present time.

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History of International Olympic Day

Doctor Gruss, a member of the International Olympic Committee in Czechoslovakia, presented a report on a World Olympic Day celebration. The report was presented in 1947 during the 41st Session of the IOC in Stockholm and contained the idea of a day to promote the Olympic games. In the 42^nd IOC session held in January 1948 in St Moritz, the idea was adopted by the committee. The National Olympic Committees (NOCs) were put in charge of selecting any date between 17 and 24 June for the celebration of the day. Finally, June 23 was selected as International Olympic Day to coincide with the establishment of the International Olympic Committee at the Sorbonne, Paris, on 23 June 1894. The first Olympic Day was thus celebrated on 23 June 1948 with the NOCs organizing the event in promotion of the Olympics.

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International Olympic Committee

The International Olympic Committee is a non-governmental sports organization founded in 1894 and situated in Lausanne, Switzerland. The committee is the managing body of the National Olympic Committees and of the worldwide “Olympic Movement” and also takes responsibility for organizing the modern (Summer, Winter, and Youth) Olympic Games.  Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas are credited with the establishment of this committee.

Celebration

Every year on the occasion of International Olympic Day, NOCs deploy sports, cultural and educational activities aimed at everybody – regardless of age, gender, social background, or sporting ability. To celebrate the day, you can find out about your local NOC and take part in these activities. You can also follow Olympics.com and @Olympics to take inspiration from some of the world’s best Olympians. Try learning more about the Olympics through movies and documentaries or watch interviews of athletes from around the world.

International Olympic Day Theme 2023

Every year International Olympics Day is observed with a theme picked and announced by the International Olympic Committee. The theme for the 2023 celebration is “LETSMOVE”. The theme for International Olympic Day 2022 was ‘Together for a Peaceful World’.

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Interesting facts related to the Olympics

Check out some mind-blowing facts related to Olympic events:

1. The first Olympic Games took place in 776 BC and ended in 393 AD.
2. The first modern Olympics were held 1500 years later in 1896 in Greece.
3. Women were allowed to compete in the Olympics only since 1900.
4. Only four athletes have won medals in both the Winter and the Summer Olympics.
5. English and French are the official languages of the Olympics games.
6. The Olympic torch is lit the old-fashioned way in an ancient ceremony.
7. Artists like painters, architects, writers, and musicians participated in the Olympics till 1948.
8. The United States has hosted the Summer Olympics four times.
9. The modern Olympics have been hosted by 23 countries.
10. Olympic games were canceled in 1916, 1940, and 1944 due to World Wars.

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