Last Updated 15 June 2025 IST: International Olympic Day is the day to remember the foundation of the Olympic games. It is the day when the foundation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was being laid. Sports activities are always beneficial for one’s health and well being. And observing these helps in encouraging people to come forward and indulge in sports activities. Let us know about the day in detail.

International Olympic Day 2025 Highlights

• International Olympic Day is an international observance which aims at remembering the foundation of the International Olympic Committee.

• Motivating people to practice sports activities is yet another aim of this day.

• These kinds of international days are marked to encourage participation in sports activities at a global level.

• Every year this day is observed on a fixed date of June 23.

• Activities and Olympic runs are being organised to celebrate this day. 

• Amidst these activities one should not forget the prime goal of this human life which is to attain salvation by worshipping Supreme God Kabir.

What is an International Olympic Day?

International Olympic Day is one of the international observances observed to highlight the role of sports activities in maintaining physical, mental and social well being of an individual. It also highlights the foundation day of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) globally. Every year emphasis is given amongst the people to encourage sports activities. And with each passing year the number of participating nations have increased substantially. With the three pillars of Olympics Move, Learn and Discover volunteers are motivating other people to participate in any sport activity around.

What is the History of International Olympic Day?

Doctor Gruss, a member of the International Olympic Committee was the first person who proposed and submitted the idea of celebration of Olympic Day in his reports in the 41st session of the International Olympic Committee in Stockholm in 1947. His main purpose was to increase mass participation in Olympic games. 

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In 1948, during the 42nd session of the International Olympic Committee at St. Mortitz, the idea of International Olympic Day was discussed and implemented. It was decided that June 23 will be the day for International Olympic Day as it is also the founding day of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at Sorbonne, Paris in 1894. 

When was the first Olympic Day observed?

The first Olympic Day was observed on 23 June 1948 under the leadership of Sigfrid Edström as IOC President. Belgium, Venezuela, Great Britain, Switzerland, Portugal, Greece, Austria, Canada and Uruguay were the first participating countries who organised Olympic Day events in their respective countries. In the current edition of Olympic Charter, it is being recommended that all National Olympic Committee (NOC) should organise an Olympic Day or week to uplift Olympic movement.

What is the theme of the International Olympic Day 2025?

Each year International Olympic Day is observed with a dedicated theme. The theme for the year 2024 was “Let’s Move and Celebrate”. The theme for International Olympic Day 2025 is “Leveling the Playing Field: Sport for Social Inclusion”. This theme emphasizes how sport can be a powerful tool for advancing social inclusion and achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is promoting this theme to highlight the role of sport in building more equal and inclusive societies. The IOC’s efforts align with the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP), which is annually celebrated on April 6th. 

This year’s theme is also being emphasized by the IOC to encourage governments, policymakers, and UN leaders to invest in sport as a key driver for sustainable development. The IOC is also working to integrate sport into discussions at the upcoming World Summit on Social Development in Doha, Qatar, in November 2025.

Promoting Peaceful and Inclusive Societies Through Sport

The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) highlights how athletes and the broader Olympic Movement actively foster peaceful and inclusive societies through sport. One of the most compelling examples of this commitment is the Olympic Games, which unite athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) along with the IOC Refugee Olympic Team. While athletes compete with intensity, they also live together harmoniously in the Olympic Village, demonstrating unity beyond competition.

Since the Torino 2006 Games, the Olympic Village has featured the Olympic Truce Mural a powerful emblem of sport’s role in promoting peace. It provides a meaningful platform for athletes worldwide to express their support for the core values of peace, respect, solidarity, inclusion, and equality.

The Mural also visually embodies the United Nations’ Olympic Truce Resolution, which urges all nations to pause conflicts and uphold the spirit of peace during the Olympic Games.

What do people do on Olympic Day?

Olympic Day is renowned for mass participation in sports activities. And it is done by encouraging people to participate and alongside arranging participation activities. Let us know the ways by which people participate in Olympics Day: 

• Organise and participate in Olympic runs all over the globe.

• Various schools, colleges and other educational institutions organise sports activities and include them into their annual curriculum. 

• First Olympic run was executed in 1987, and everyone was invited to participate regardless of gender, sporting capability, age and status.

• People look for the nearest Olympic run or any other sporting activity organised so as to boost Olympic movement.

• While taking part on any of Olympic activity or organising one people tag @olympics with #MoveForPeace and #OlympicsDay to spread peace and generate participation.

• There has been a mass increase in the number of NOCs all over the globe which has increased mass participation. From 45 NOCs now the number has crossed hundred in terms of growth and consequently participants have increased. 

Historic Run in Lausanne, Switzerland 

On this Olympics Day 2025, around the city of Lausanne, Switzerland where the International Olympic Committee is based, a run is being organised. Representatives from Milano Cortina 2026 Winter games and various Olympians will be taking part in the run to make it a historic one. The event will be covered by Olympics.com later. Organisers of Paris 2025 are also participating in a run around their city on the weekend. Even France’s Eiffel Tower is getting involved in the celebrations this year.

International Olympic Day 2025 Quotes

• “I hated every minute of training, but I said ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion”- Mohammad Ali

• “Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement” – Matt Biondi

• “Never buy gold, simply earn it”- Mary Kom

• “People throw stones at you and you convert them into milestones”- Sachin Tendulkar

• “If you want to be the best, you have to do things that other people are not willing to do”- Michael Phelps

• “The glory is being happy. The glory is not winning here or winning there. The glory is enjoying practicing every day, trying to be a better player than before”- Rafael Nadal

Our Prime Goal is to attain Salvation

We have been blessed with human life, which is far superior to all other species on this Earth. This unique status is due to our ability to think, reflect, and take conscious actions. Understanding this helps us realize the true purpose of our human birth to seek salvation by worshiping the Supreme God Kabir. Though it may seem difficult to accept, this truth is clearly revealed in many of our Holy Scriptures. After this precious human life, we face the possibility of being born again into one of the 8.4 million species of living beings, enduring suffering and hardship. Only by attaining salvation can we avoid this cycle. Therefore, to achieve immortality and eternal peace, it is essential to follow the spiritual path and worship God Kabir.

Today, Supreme God Kabir has graciously made the path to salvation easier by sending His enlightened Saint Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj to this world. Through Him, we are being blessed with the true Naam Diksha (Initiation), which connects us directly to the Supreme Power. By accepting this initiation, we can receive the countless benefits of worshiping Supreme God Kabir and progress swiftly on the path of liberation. To understand this divine knowledge in depth, you are encouraged to read the sacred book Gyan Ganga, authored by Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj, which unveils the spiritual truths hidden in our scriptures.

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