Russia Celebrates International Olympic Day

On June 23rd, Russia joined the world in celebrating International Olympic Day, which marks the anniversary of the founding of the International Olympic Committee by Baron Pierre de Coubertin. This year, the day was dedicated to the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in London. Main celebrations featuring sport, educational and cultural events took place in Moscow, Sochi and locations across the whole of Russia.

The world famous "Luzhniki" stadium complex in Moscow was at the heart of the Olympic Day festivities. Guests at the event were given the opportunity to learn more about the London 2012 Olympic Games and Olympians who will be representing Russia, while there was also the chance to try different sports, participate in competitions and undergo master classes with athletes.

At the prestigious "Luzhniki' Alley, located near the Large Sports Arena, a dedicated sports village was organized with 35 different venues. At the Alley guests were able to play basketball, volleyball and football, try the climbing wall, learn to shoot from a bow, jump on a trampoline, play a game of chess with a well-known grandmaster, run on jolly-jumpers and even learn to hit a baseball. The youngest visitors were entertained by children's animation team. The "Luzhniki" guests also witnessed a unique football match between the teams of the Winter Olympic champions and the Summer Olympic champions.

The Russian Olympic Committee, with the Support of the Moscow Government, organized the celebration in Moscow.

In Sochi, the celebration started with an "Olympic warm up" and was followed by fans of an active lifestyle participating in beach football, volleyball and street ball competitions. Master classes were organized in bench pressing, arm wrestling and athletics for all those who wanted to take part, hosted by Olympic champion Andrei Chemerkin and prize winners of the Games Aleksey Voevoda and Elena Prokhorova. In addition, the organizers prepared a fun "Olympic quiz", a relay on roller skates, tug-of-war competitions and other activities. Further events dedicated to International Olympic Day were also held in other regions of the country. Competitions in various types of sports took place in stadiums, parks, children’s health camps and central squares of cities. Managers of physical education and sport, Olympic champions and well known athletes welcomed the participants in the competitions.

Notes to the editor

International Olympic Day is a traditional event, dedicated to the founding of the International Olympic Committee by Pierre de Coubertin on June 23, 1896. The celebration has been marked since 1987 by the initiative of the IOC. In Russia, in honor of International Olympic Day, events are held across the country annually, aimed at promoting Olympic values and ideals, making the Olympic movement popular and encouraging people to engage in physical education and sport on a regular basis.

For more information, please contact:

Xenia Reizhevskaya, Sochi 2014 Head of Press Office, +7 925 999 2551

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