In 1947, at the 41st session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) held in Stockholm, a proposal was made to celebrate International Olympic Day.
The first International Olympic Day was celebrated in 9 countries on June 23, 1948, Idman.biz reports.
To celebrate this day more solemnly and with the participation of all National Olympic Committees, Olympic Running Day was held in 1987. International Olympic Day has been celebrated all over the world for 77 years now. That day is dedicated to the bright ideals of the Olympic Movement, founded by Baron Pierre de Coubertin.
In 1894, a body was created to organize, popularize and lead the Olympic Movement. This body was called the International Olympic Committee.
In the same year, on June 23, 1894, at a congress on physical education in Paris, attended by representatives of twelve countries, the famous Frenchman made his historic report. In his report, he introduced the participants of the congress to the organizational foundations of the Olympic Games.
Then the congress decided to hold the first Olympics in modern history. This Olympiad was held in Athens in 1896: 311 athletes from thirteen countries competed for medals in thirteen disciplines of the Olympic program. Now competitions of the strongest athletes of the planet are held every four years. The only exception is the period of World War II.
Under the leadership of the IOC, 33 Summer Olympic Games and 23 Winter Olympics were held.
It was accepted to celebrate International Olympic Day among athletes of all over the world by holding competitions and various events. The organization of mass runs of athletes by attracting the largest number of participants has become more mass.
Thus, the basic principle of Olympism, expounded in a special document called the Olympic Charter, is promoted. The Charter states: “The purpose of the Olympic Movement is to educate young people in the spirit of mutual understanding and friendship through sport, and thus contribute to creating a better and more prosperous world.”
International Olympic Day is also celebrated annually in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan, which joined the Olympic Movement as an independent state in 1992, has been celebrating International Olympic Day in Azerbaijan every year since 1996.
After Mr. Ilham Aliyev was elected president of the National Olympic Committee in 1997, the Olympic Movement in Azerbaijan began to gain momentum. During these years, the organizational and constructive work of the National Olympic Committee has not slowed down for a moment. The construction of new and modern sports complexes has begun in every part of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani National Olympic Committee has become an example for other Olympic Committees. The signing of the Order on Preparation for the Atlanta Games by Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, the constant state control of the preparation, and the strengthening of the state’s attention and care for athletes have borne fruit. Azerbaijan was represented in Atlanta with 23 athletes, and one silver medal was won. Azerbaijan became an Olympic country. Since that time, a great revival and renaissance has begun in the development of sports and the Olympic Movement in Azerbaijan.
In 1998, Azerbaijan republic participated in the Winter Olympic Games for the first time. At the XVIII Winter Olympic Games held in Nagano, Japan, Azerbaijan republic was represented in four competitions with 5 athletes.
Azerbaijani athletes have participated in 8 Summer Olympic Games and 6 Winter Olympic Games over the years and have won a total of 9 gold, 16 silver and 31 bronze medals.
Idman.biz
