Table of Contents
June 23 is considered the International Olympic Day. The day is observed with reverence to the Modern Olympic Games. The IOC is the governing body of the Olympic movements. Olympics engages the global participation of sports regardless of age, gender and nation. Explore the International Olympic Day 2025.
International Olympic Day 2025 Date – June 23
In this article readers can get a glimpse on
- History and Significance of International Olympic Day
- International Olympic Day Theme 2025
- International Olympic Day Quiz
History of International Olympic Day
1: Who was the first woman President of India?
While tracing the history, we see the roots of the Olympics in 8th century BC Greece. Greece promoted the tradition of sports and athletes. They encourage the participation of games and conducted many from ancient times. Baron Pierre de Coubertin was motivated by the ancient Olympic games and later resulted in the creation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and conducted the first modern Olympic games.
The modern Olympic sports did hold in 1894 following the reconstruction of the old Olympic games. Thus, to remember and celebrate the birth of modern Olympic games, on the 23rd June in 1984 in Paris, the international Olympic games are managed to be held every year.
As a historical record, women were permitted to play in the Olympics only since 1900. The winter and summer Olympics were held on the same dates from 1924 to 1992. Later, changes took over. The Olympic day was first observed on June 23 in 1948 and some countries like Greece, Canada, Great Britain and Uruguay established the Olympic day in their countries.
During the 41st Session in the year 1947, the International Olympic Committee in Stockholm, an International Olympic Committee member, Doctor Gruss, in Czechoslovakia, bestowed a report about the celebration of Olympic Day. In January 1948 the plan was selected one year later on the occurrence of the 42nd IOC Session in St. Moritz.
The National Olympic Committee was in charge of planning the arrangements for this day and asked to choose between 17th and 24th June. The organizing committee ultimately concluded that the International Olympic Day will be celebrated on 23rd June annually. The first Olympic Day was observed on 23rd June in the year 1948.
Free UPSKILLING Courses!
Take your first step toward mastering in-demand skills, acing interviews, and securing top-tier jobs with Entri's free upskilling courses.
Start Learning!International Olympic Day Theme 2025
The theme for International Olympic Day 2025, “Move, Learn, Discover – Together for a Better World,” emphasizes the unifying power of sports in promoting physical activity, education, and cultural exchange. It encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to get moving, expand their knowledge through the values of Olympism, and explore new skills and ideas. By highlighting the connection between physical movement and learning, the theme aims to inspire communities to work together, fostering healthier, more inclusive, and active lifestyles.
This year’s focus also underscores the importance of teamwork and shared experiences. Whether through participating in local sports events, engaging in Olympic-themed educational programs, or discovering diverse cultures through the Olympic spirit, the goal is to unite people across the globe. By moving, learning, and discovering together, the 2025 theme reflects the Olympic Movement’s vision of creating a more peaceful and better world through sport and mutual understanding.
International Olympic Day Previous Themes
International Olympic Day, observed annually on June 23, commemorates the founding of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894. It aims to promote participation in sport across the globe regardless of age, gender or athletic ability, and to celebrate the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect.
Each year, the celebration often centers around a specific theme or call to action. Here are the themes from recent years:
- 2015: “Move, Learn, Discover”
- 2016: “Move, Learn, Discover”
- 2017: “Move, Learn, Discover”
- 2018: “United By Sport”
- 2019: “Importance of Sports in life”
- 2020: “Move, learn and discover”
- 2021: “Stay Healthy, Stay Strong, Stay Active with the Olympic Day”
- 2022: “Together, For a Peaceful World”
- 2023: “Let’s Move”
- 2024: “Let’s Move and Celebrate”
- 2025: “Move, Learn, Discover – Together for a Better World”
International Olympic Day Significance
International Olympic Day is formed as an inspiration and encouragement for passionate lovers of sports and other games. Thus, the International Olympic Day aims to encourage, appreciate and inspire the aspirants of sports globally. The day can also be considered as a source of remembrance for the players and winners of proud history. Every year, a day to highlight the pride of nations and invoke the importance of the games and sports, that’s what the whole day is about. Many activities are promoted on this day which makes it even more interesting
Free UPSKILLING Courses!
Take your first step toward mastering in-demand skills, acing interviews, and securing top-tier jobs with Entri's free upskilling courses.
Start Learning!What Do the Olympic Rings Symbolize?
One unifying flag staying flown overall in games and sports activities is the iconic five-ring Olympic flag. Have you ever thought of its meaning? Let me explain how the Flag looks in detail. The Olympic flag has a white framework, with five intertwined rings in the center with the colors blue, yellow, black, green and red. This design is symbolic and it describes the five continents of the world, united by Olympism, while the six colors are those that appear on all the national flags of the world at present.
What is Olympic Day Run?
Have you heard of the Olympic Day Run? The International Olympic Committee organizes the Olympic Day Run. It’s the worldwide activity organized on this day or the month of June inspiring mass participation. The
Olympic Day Run is an activity organized worldwide, promoting mass participation of sports held in June. The International Olympic Committee organizes a run. The first Olympic run was held in 1987 to promote the participation of every humankind in sports and athletics, over 10 km. The real goal is to encourage the educate and encourage everyone about the necessity of sports and games. The real mindset of the movement is evoking the interest in sports in humans as a whole.
The Olympic Day Run is usually organized from 17th to 24th June by the National Olympic Committees, in different places. There is a 1.5 km fun run that gets organized. This can be said as an earnest international attempt to promote fitness and well–being along with the Olympic ideals of Fair play, Solidarity, Respect and Sportsmanship beyond the globe.
World Olympic Day is according to the three pedestals, Move, Learn and Discover. India has been an energetic member of the Olympics for many years. India first competed in the Olympics in the year 1900. NOC in India also combines the Olympic Day Run every year and inspires more people to engage in sports and games
Random Facts
- The six colors – blue, yellow, black, green, red, and white background – were taken because all nation’s flag includes at least one of them.
- In the 2012 London Games, all participating countries sent female athletes.
- The first Olympic Games held in the 8th century B.C. in Olympia, Greece. They were held all four years for 12 ages.
- The first modern Olympics were held in 1896 in Greece.
- In ancient Greece, athletes didn’t bother about sponsorship, protection, or fashion – they played without any protection
- In ancient times, the games lasted five or six months.
- Women were not allowed to compete initially, later began their incredible emergence in the Olympics from 1900.
- The Winter and the Summer Olympics took place in the same year, from 1924-1992,
- Only four players have accomplished medals in both the Olympics. In which only Christa Ludinger-Rothenburger, won medals in the same year.
- During the 2012 London Games, the Olympic Village needed 165,000 towels for a bit more than two weeks of action.
- From 1912-1948, artisans engaged in the Olympics: Painters, sculptors, architects, writers, and musicians played for medals in their corresponding fields.
List of Olympic Sports
- Archery
- Badminton
- Baseball and softball
- Basketball (including 3×3 basketball)
- Beach volleyball
- Boxing
- Canoe/kayak
- Climbing
- Cycling (track, road, mountain, BMX)
- Diving
- Equestrian (dressage, jumping and eventing)
- Fencing
- Field hockey
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Handball
- Judo
- Karate
- Modern pentathlon
- Roller sport (skateboarding)
- Rowing
- Rugby 7s
- Sailing (including windsurfing)
- Shooting
- Soccer/football
- Swimming
- Surfing
- Synchronized swimming
- Table tennis
- Taekwondo
- Tennis
- Track and field
- Triathlon
- Volleyball (indoor)
- Water polo
- Weightlifting
- Wrestling
- Kiteboarding (as part of sailing in 2024)
- Breakdancing (added for 2024)
- Baseball and softball (added for 2020)
- Karate (added for 2020)
- Skateboarding (added for 2020)
- Climbing (added for 2020)
- Surfing (added for 2020)
- 3×3 basketball (as part of basketball in 2020)
- Golf (in 2016)
- Rugby union (in 2016)
- Baseball (in 2008)
- Softball
International Olympic Day Quotes
- Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winning means you’re doing better than you’ve ever done before. – Bonnie Blair, American speed skater and five-time gold medalist
- Focus, discipline, hard work, goal setting and, of course, the thrill of finally achieving your goals. These are all lessons of life. – Kristi Yamaguchi, American figure skater and 1992 gold medalist
- I am building a fire, and every day I train, I add more fuel. At just the right moment, I light the match. – Mia Hamm, American soccer player and two-time gold medalist
- If you dream and allow yourself to dream, you can do anything. – Clara Hughes, Canadian cyclist and 2006 gold-medal-winning speed skater
- The world never puts a price on you higher than the one you put on yourself. – Sonja Henie, Norwegian figure skater and three-time gold medalist
- Without passion, you won’t do something 100 per cent. That’s the bottom line. – Apolo Ohno, American speed skater and an eight-time medalist
- It’s not about winning at the Olympic Games. It’s about trying to win. The motto is faster, higher, stronger, not fastest, highest, strongest. Sometimes it’s the trying that matters. – Bronte Barratt, Australian swimmer and 2008 gold medalist
- To win, you have to risk loss. – Jean-Claude Killy, French ski racer and three-time gold medalist
- There is a popular fallacy that falling is the mark of a poor skater. But the truth is that when one stops falling, he has probably stopped improving. – Dick Button, American figure skater and two-time gold medalist
- Are you going to stand or are you going to crumble? In the face of everything, standstill. – Gabby Douglas, American gymnast and three-time gold medalist
Activities for the Day
- An international day is observed to promote the ideals of that day with many inspiriting and interesting activities. You can check the following activities and try to engage in any to make this day a memorable one.
- Participate in the run movement
- Be a part of the games and sports committee in your area
- Start a game or sports as per your interest
- Help any already working sports organization to develop
- You can also donate and make sure the growth of the sports clubs near your residence
- Join the social media sports groups and promote the ideologies
- Share the inspiring stories of athletes and sportsmen
- You can also share the wow moments that happened in the Olympics of any year
Books Related to Olympics and Sports
- The Boys in the Boat
- by Daniel James Brown
- For the Glory by Duncan Hamilton
- Master of the Ceremonies by Ric Birch
- The Amateurs by David Halberstam
- Don’t Tell Me You’re Afraid by Giuseppe Catozzella
- Striking Back by Aaron J. Klein
- The Olympic Games by John Rodda and Lord Killanin
- Speed Kings by Andy Bull
- How to Watch the Olympics by David Goldblatt and Johnny Acton
- The Naked Olympics by Tony Perrottet
- Foxcatcher by Mark Schultz
- Just Don’t Fall by Josh Sundquist
- The Boys of Winter by Wayne Coffey
International Olympic Day Quiz 2025
B) 1948
C) 1960
3. What does Olympic Day commemorate?
A) The first Winter Olympics
B) The formation of the Olympic Village
C) The founding of the International Olympic Committee
A) Jesse Owens
B) Demetrius Vikelas
C) Pierre de Coubertin
5. What is the motto of the Olympic Games?
A) Faster, Higher, Stronger
B) One World, One Dream
C) Spirit in Motion
A) Five ancient sports
B) Five major world cities
C) Five inhabited continents
A) Rome
B) Athens
C) London
A) Sporting victory
B) Link between ancient and modern Olympics
C) Peace and prosperity
A) Peace, Progress, Participation
B) Excellence, Respect, Friendship
C) Strength, Endurance, Skill
Want More Engaging Questions?
Download our FREE PDF packed with insightful quiz questions to test your knowledge!
🔽 Click below to get your free copy now! 🔽
International Olympic Day Quiz 2025 PDF
As International Olympic Day draws to a close, it’s clear that the spirit of “Move, Learn, Discover – Together for a Better World” resonates far beyond sports fields. These shared moments of physical activity and growth remind us that movement can ignite curiosity, learning can foster unity, and discovery can bridge cultural divides. By coming together in celebration and participation, we weave stronger connections—not just with our bodies, but with each other—laying the foundation for more inclusive and healthier communities everywhere.
In the spirit of Olympics, tomorrow’s better world begins with the choices we make today. Whether it’s stepping onto the track, picking up a new skill, or joining others in friendly competition, each small action contributes to a ripple effect of positive change. Let’s carry forward the lessons from this special day—championing excellence, respect, and friendship—in our daily lives. In doing so, we honor the Olympic movement and continue building toward unity, understanding, and a brighter, more connected future.
Free UPSKILLING Courses!
Take your first step toward mastering in-demand skills, acing interviews, and securing top-tier jobs with Entri's free upskilling courses.
Start Learning!Frequently Asked Questions
What is International Olympic Day?
International Olympic Day is a global celebration of sport, health, and the Olympic values. It is observed annually on June 23 to commemorate the founding of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894. The day encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in physical activities. It promotes the core Olympic values of excellence, respect, and friendship. Schools, communities, and organizations around the world host sporting events, educational activities, and cultural programs on this day.
Why is International Olympic Day important?
This day raises awareness about the benefits of physical activity and promotes an active lifestyle for all. It serves as a reminder of the power of sport to bring people together across cultures and nations. The Olympic values help foster peace, equality, and mutual respect among communities. It also connects people to the history and mission of the Olympic Movement. Through participation and celebration, the day reinforces global unity and well-being.
Who organizes International Olympic Day?
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the main organizer of International Olympic Day. It works closely with National Olympic Committees (NOCs) across the world to coordinate local events and activities. The IOC encourages widespread participation by promoting accessible and inclusive events. Local schools, sports clubs, and communities also play a big role in organizing activities. The goal is to ensure everyone, regardless of age or ability, has a chance to take part.
When was International Olympic Day first celebrated?
International Olympic Day was first celebrated on June 23, 1948. It marked the 54th anniversary of the founding of the International Olympic Committee. That year, nine countries held Olympic Day events. Since then, the celebration has grown and is now observed by over 150 countries. It has evolved to include cultural and educational components along with sports.
What kind of activities are held on Olympic Day?
Olympic Day activities include fun runs, community sports competitions, fitness sessions, and school-based events. Educational workshops and cultural exhibitions are also organized to teach people about the Olympic values. Some countries use this day to introduce children to new sports. Virtual events and social media campaigns are also common, helping reach a wider audience. The focus is on inclusivity, encouraging everyone to get involved, no matter their skill level.
Who can participate in International Olympic Day?
Everyone is encouraged to participate in Olympic Day events. People of all ages, genders, and physical abilities are welcome to join in the celebrations. Activities are usually free or low-cost to ensure broad access. Many events are family-friendly and community-based to promote unity and engagement. Whether you’re an athlete or just starting to get active, there’s something for everyone.
What are the Olympic values promoted on this day?
The three core Olympic values are excellence, respect, and friendship. Excellence encourages people to give their best, not only in sports but also in life. Respect emphasizes fair play, diversity, and care for others and the environment. Friendship highlights the power of sport to build bridges between people and cultures. These values are the foundation of all Olympic Day activities and messages.
How is Olympic Day different from the Olympic Games?
The Olympic Games are a global sports competition held every four years, featuring athletes from around the world. Olympic Day, on the other hand, is a yearly event open to everyone, not just elite athletes. It focuses on participation, education, and community rather than competition. The goal is to promote physical activity and the Olympic spirit in everyday life. While the Games highlight performance, Olympic Day emphasizes inclusion and engagement.
Can schools and youth organizations celebrate Olympic Day?
Yes, schools and youth organizations are strongly encouraged to take part in Olympic Day. Many plan sports events, educational lessons about the Olympics, and fun group activities. It’s an excellent opportunity to teach children about global unity, healthy living, and sportsmanship. Some schools even connect with local Olympians or sports clubs to enhance the experience. These events inspire young people to stay active and embrace positive values.
How can I get involved in Olympic Day celebrations?
You can join a local Olympic Day event through your community center, school, or local sports organization. Many events are listed on National Olympic Committee websites or shared on social media. You can also celebrate by going for a walk, trying a new sport, or learning about Olympic history at home. Sharing your activities online with hashtags helps spread awareness. Most importantly, find a fun and meaningful way to move and connect with others.
