Today, Wednesday 23 June, marks Olympic Day, a date that celebrates the Olympic ideals through sporting and cultural activities across the globe. 

Olympic Day was introduced in 1948, in homage to the creation of the modern Olympic Games on 23 June 1894. The purpose was to promote participation in sport, and in light of that, the Olympic Day Run concept was introduced in 1987, with 45 National Olympic Committees participating. 

Today, more than 200 National Olympic Committees actively take part in Olympic Day, along with international sports federations, such as the International Handball Federation (IHF). 

2021 – #StrongerTogether

The 2021 Olympic Day is extra-special as it marks exactly one month to go until the Opening Ceremony of the postponed Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, on 23 July 2021.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the IHF recognise the importance of Olympic ideals such as solidarity as well as physical activity as particularly key. However, like 2020, due to COVID-19 and subsequent continuing restrictions on large gatherings and sports events in many countries, Olympic Day continues to be different compared to previous years with the celebration moving online.

The IOC is celebrating the resilience and strength the world has shown this year, and in particular the athletes who have inspired people around the world, bringing them hope and unity and showing everyone that they truly are ‘Stronger Together’.

This sentiment is summed up in the IOC’s #StrongerTogether campaign, which saw the launch of a ‘Hero’ film (above) on the eve of Olympic Day to ignite the road to Tokyo showing the human side of Olympic heroes and legends, and Olympic Day itself featuring a number of online activities including live chats, yoga and workout sessions with athletes with the finals of the Olympic Virtual Series also being broadcast.

IOC schedule for 2021 Olympic Day (all times CEST)

08:00    Olympic Day live blog: www.olympics.com and Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) live chat: @Olympics Instagram

09:00    Workout Imani-Lara Lansiquot (GBR): www.olympics.com

13:00    Workout and chat with Venus Williams (USA): www.olympics.com

14:00    Live broadcast Olympic Virtual Series cycling final: @Olympics YouTube

15:00    Live chat with Christine Ohuruogu (GBR) and guests: @Olympics Instagram

17:00    Live yoga and mindfulness session with Christy Prior (NZL): @Olympics YouTube

18:00    Live broadcast Olympic Virtual Series motor sport final: @Olympics Facebook

19:00    Live chat with Usain Bolt (JAM): @Olympics Instagram

For more information on Olympic Day, click here.