![img:SLOC affiliates from the various national sports federations line up for the official start of Olympic Day Run [PHOTO: Anthony De Beauville]](https://thevoiceslu.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/spr-01-new.jpg)
![img:SLOC affiliates from the various national sports federations line up for the official start of Olympic Day Run [PHOTO: Anthony De Beauville]](https://www.thevoiceslu.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/spr-01-new.jpg)
Affiliates of the St. Lucia Olympic Committee have registered scores of their members, and the general public is also welcome to participate in this run.
The Olympic Run is scheduled for tomorrow and will start from 7:00 a.m. outside the Castries Market, head up the John Compton Highway, into Mandela Drive up to the French Embassy, make a right turn and head back down Mandela Drive onto the highway again, ending outside the Red Cross building.
According to Ryan O’Brian, Public Relation Officer for the SLOC, advanced registration continues via the SLOC’s e-mail [email protected] or one hour before the start of the run outside the Castries Market.
The other main activity being organized is a quiz among member affiliates of the St. Lucia Olympic Committee Incorporated with themes relating to the Olympic movement.
How it all started? On 23 June 1894, delegates from 12 countries assembled at the Sorbonne in Paris, and voted unanimously to support Pierre de Coubertin’s proposal to revive the Olympic Games. This marked the birthdate of the modern Olympic Movement and the founding of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
In January 1948, at the 42nd IOC Session in St. Moritz, the members adopted the project of a World Olympic Day. Presented at the previous Session in 1947 by IOC member Dr. Josef Gruss from Czechoslovakia, the proposal was for National Olympic Committees (NOC) to organize this event between 17 and 24 June to commemorate the founding of the modern Olympic Movement and promote the Olympic ideals in their countries.
Over the last 20 years Olympic Day has been associated with Olympic Day Runs all over the world. The concept was first launched in 1987 by the IOC Sport for All Commission, and in a bid to encourage all NOCs to celebrate Olympic Day and promote the practice of sport to all. With 45 NOCs taking part in the first Olympic Day Run in 1987, the numbers have since grown to more than 100 participating