International Olympic Day 2023: International Olympic Day is observed annually on June 23 and was first recognised in 1948. Every four years, the Olympics is the greatest international multi-sport event. Thousands of athletes and sportspeople from around the globe compete in a variety of activities and sports. The ancient Greek Olympic Games conducted in Olympia from the eighth century B.C. to the fourth century A.D. serve as the inspiration for the contemporary Olympic Games. The first modern Olympic Games were conducted in Athens, Greece, in 1896. Since its inception, International Olympic Day has expanded its audience and adapted to a variety of regional nuances.
HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC DAY
Dr. Josef Gruss, a member of the International Olympic Committee from Czechoslovakia, presented a report on World Olympic Day in Stockholm in 1947. Later in January 1948, at the 42nd IOC Session in St. Moritz, the concept of Olympic Day was adopted. The date of June 23 was designated after mutual consultation to commemorate the founding of the I.O.C. Its purpose was to send a message to young people by encouraging them to participate in sports.
In honour of Zeus, the progenitor of all Greek gods, an annual religious festival was celebrated in ancient Greece. The Olympic Games were included in this celebration. It began when a chef from the city of Elis won a 600-foot-long footrace in 776 B.C. It was the only athletic event for the first 13 years of the games. After 776 B.C., the Olympics were conducted every four years for approximately 1200 years.
The day is observed to promote and increase awareness of the Olympic Movement, as well as to encourage more and more people to participate in the Olympic Games. Athletes and sportsmen from nearly every nation participate in sporting events such as races, music, exhibitions, various sports, games, and educational seminars. The three pillars of Olympic Day are Move, Learn, and Detect. The National Olympic Committee encourages participation from all individuals, regardless of gender, age, socioeconomic status, etc.
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5 SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT OLYMPICS
The metal used to create gold medals is silver.
However, contrary to prevalent belief, the gold medallions are not composed of metals.
The Olympic Torch Relay is a contemporary custom.
The Olympic Torch Relay has its origins in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, not the ancient Olympic Games.
Two athletes triumphed for their respective nations
Daniel Carrol won his two gold medals for Australia and the United States in different years than Kakhi Kakhiashvili, who earned his gold medals for a Unified team and Greece in different years.
Ancient Olympic competitions were naked.
In Ancient Greece, athletes would compete in marathons without clothing.
The Olympic flame in orbit
Multiple times, the extinguished Olympic torch has been launched into orbit.
INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | June 23 | Friday |
| 2024 | June 23 | Sunday |
| 2025 | June 23 | Monday |
| 2026 | June 23 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | June 23 | Wednesday |
