6.06.2016
The Turkish Olympic Committee’s (TOC) Olympic Day activities, in cooperation with its main sponsor Koç Holding and with the motto ‘Move, Learn, Discover’ have been concluded. Olympic Day, celebrated in over 200 countries around the world, is a global celebration of the founding of the International Olympic Committee and the modern Olympic Movement. TOC, which has been celebrating the Olympic Day since 26 years, celebrated the Olympic Day 2016 at different schools, parks, shopping malls and campuses in four different cities between 15 May to 4 June.
Olympic Day activities, with the purpose of bringing together people from all ages to experience the thrill of sports, to provide sport everywhere in the service of humanity to grow a peaceful and healthy society, took a start in Mersin on 15 of May and continued in Istanbul on 23 May, in Gaziantep on 28 May and came to an end on 4th of June in Eskişehir with dragon activities where some ten thousand students participated.
During the indoor and outdoor activities, the students first attended the interactive presentation of the ‘Sports Culture and Olympic Education Project’ which gives information on Olympic values and ethics, Olympic sports, Olympic symbols and history of the Olympics etc. Later they spent the day outside to engage in fun athletics activities in the sports stations set up. At the end of the programmes, participants were awarded certificates signed by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and TOC President Professor Dr. Uğur Erdener.
The Aim of the Olympic Day
The aim of the event is to popularize the Olympic Movement and the philosophy of the Olympic spirit and promote healthy lifestyles, the preservation of nature, and environmental protection. It embraces all through Olympic values. It gives people the chance to feel the Olympism without participating into the Olympic Games. TOC, by organising Olympic Day celebrations every year, aims to make the children and youngsters come together and educate them through sports, make people of all ages to experience the excitement of sports and provide people an opportunity to enjoy the physical and spiritual benefits of sports.