World Olympic Day 2022: All you need to know

World Olympic Day is marked on June 23 every year. The idea to have a separate day to recognise the importance of sports stems from a pitch made by ‘Doctor Gruss’ — a former member of the International Olympic Committee. He presented the idea in 1947.

The purpose of this day is to demonstrate support for athletes across the globe and “help the world become a better place through sports”, the International Olympic Committee said.

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The National Olympic Committees (NOCs) were put in charge of organising this event and were requested to choose a date between 17 and 24 June, thereby celebrating the founding of the International Olympic Committee at the Sorbonne, Paris, on 23 June 1894, where Pierre de Coubertin revived the Olympic Games.

What is the theme of World Olympic Day 2022?

The theme of this year’s World Olympic Day is “Together, For a Peaceful World”, according to the IOC website. Various international sporting events are also organised around the world to mark this day. The ‘Olympic Day Run’ has been conducted since 1987 and has seen an uptick in global participation.

This year’s theme celebrates the power of sport to bring people together in peace: a call to action for people to move together, up to and during Olympic Day, to show their united support for a peaceful world.

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When was the first World Olympic Day celebrated?

According to the IOC’s official website, was marked on was celebrated on 23 June 1948. Sigfrid Edstrom, who was the chief of the IOC at the time, delivered an address to the world to kick if celebrations.

Individual sporting events were held in countries like Portugal, Greece, Austria, Canada, Switzerland, Great Britain, Uruguay, Venezuela and Belgium.