In commemoration of the setting up of the International Olympic Committee, the IOC every year organises an Olympic Day Run with the participation of National Olympic Committees of the World.

The first World Olympic Day Run organised by the International Olympic Committee was held in 1987, over a distance of 10km, with 45 participating National Olympic Committees. Throughout the years this event has grown way beyond expectations, with the 2006 event hosting an impressive 1,291,819 participants from 164 NOC’s including Malta. This year’s 30th year anniversary Olympic Day Run will aim to break last year’s record number of participants.

The Olympic Day Run is held every year around 23 June, the birth of the Olympic Movement and IOC which was created on 23 June 1894. As a result of this Movement the first Olympic Games of the modern era as we know it today opened in Athens on 6 April 1896; and the Olympic Movement has not stopped growing ever since. The IOC together with hosting countries of the Olympic Games has resulted in 25 editions of the Summer Games and 20 editions of the Winter Games being organised. The next editions we can look forward to will be the Beijing Olympic Games 2008 and the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games in 2012.

Behind the IOC and the Olympic Movement is a philosophy and goal which is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind, in a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.

The Olympic Day Run symbolises more than a run; it is a symbolic celebration of the integration of sports in people’s lives. Its primary objective being the promotion of participation in sport by men, women and children from all corners of the world, regardless of their diversity and athletic ability.

The Maltese Olympic Committee was one of the first National Olympic Committees to participate in organising of the Olympic Day Run in Malta way back in 1988; since then the MOC has regularly ensured that this annual event is held in Malta. This activity has been carried out in various localities around the Maltese islands, including Valletta, Mdina, St. Paul’s Bay and Gozo to name a few. Various organisations have also contributed to the success of this event including all local running clubs through the Malta Amateur Athletics Association; worth mentioning is the participation of the AFM – Company C (Armed Forces of Malta) in two past editions.

Last year the Malta Cycling Federation took part with a large group of cyclists that included the Life Cycle team; the Malta Canoeing Federation also did their bit as an Olympic Sport by showing their support to the Movement in Malta and encouraged its members to follow the same route along the shoreline of St. Julian’s/Sliema. This event hosted more than 500 participants from all over the islands and was a great success; a similar experience can be expected for this years’ activity.

The MOC will be organising this event next Sunday following the same routes as last year namely starting and finishing at Spinola Bay, St. Julian’s from 8am onwards. The fun runs will consist of three distances, that is, 2.5k, 5k and 10k. Participation is free of charge and all organizations, club, groups, schools, companies and the general public is encouraged to participate in this event.

Parents are also encouraged to involve their children, and are very welcome to join the run. This run is not a race it is a fun run organised to express solidarity with the Olympic Movement and the Olympic Sports recognised by the IOC and supported by the Maltese Olympic Committee.

This run is made possible as a result of the support of McDonald’s Malta and the Malta Amateur Athletics’ Association. All participants will be given a free Olympic Day Run T-shirt, and an official Olympic Day Run IOC Certificate signed by the President of the IOC Dr. Jacques Rogge.

The Maltese Olympic Committee, in collaboration with McDonald’s Malta, will also be giving out token prizes to groups and organisations which have the largest number of individuals involved in the run. Besides the run, other activities involving other forms of sports will be held on this day like last year, involving the Malta Canoe Federation who will be encouraging their members to make their way along the seashore once again with their canoes and the Malta Cycling Federation will also be encouraging their cyclists to do the 10K route ahead of the runners.

This year the MOC welcomes the Malta Triathlon Association who will be organising an Aquathlon which will consist of a 1.5k run a 400m swim and a 1.5k run. The participation, extra effort and self fulfillment of this event help to enhance the promotion of an active life style for today’s and future generations.

Interested persons can obtain applications from all McDonald’s restaurants and through the offices of the MOC (and our website www.nocmalta.org). Registration is also accepted on the day of the run at 7.30am.

For more information about the Olympic Day Run one may contact the Maltese Olympic Committee on Tel: 21 332801 or email: [email protected]. Persons interested in joining the cyclists can contact the Malta Cycling Federation Mobile: 79471935 or email: [email protected]. Persons interested in the AQUATHLON can contact the Malta Triathlon Association email: [email protected]