Highlighted by LA 2024 and the LA84 Foundation’s "Follow the Sun" celebration in Los Angeles, the United States Olympic Committee is hosting a record-setting 2,400 events in honor of 2017 Olympic Day. Events are scheduled in 1,600 communities nationwide, with nearly 600,000 people engaged in celebration of the Olympic and Paralympic movements.
"Olympic Day marks an exciting milestone on the sporting calendar each year, and gives us the opportunity to spread the values of Olympism to the next generation of Team USA athletes and fans," said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun. "Hundreds of inspiring Team USA athletes, National Governing Bodies and Multi-Sport Organizations have come together to bring sport and the Olympic values to communities throughout the country."
The flagship Olympic Day celebration is taking place today on Los Angeles’ iconic Will Rogers State Beach, and is being hosted by LA 2024, the LA84 Foundation and the Foundation for Global Sports Development. Joined by more than 30 Team USA Olympians and Paralympians, 500 young athletes are participating in eight Olympic and Paralympic sport clinics, including fencing, gymnastics, sitting volleyball, rugby, table tennis, team handball, track and field, and volleyball. In addition to five-time Olympic medalist Janet Evans and 12-time Paralympic medalist Candace Cable – who both serve as vice chairs of LA 2024 – gymnasts Samantha Peszek and Raj Bhavsar are also attending the Olympic Day celebration.
"LA 2024 believes in the power of the Olympic values to unite our communities and to encourage youth around the world to play sports and pursue active lives," said LA 2024 Chairman Casey Wasserman. "It makes me very proud to know that hundreds of thousands of people around the nation are following LA’s lead today in celebrating the power of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Days like today boost our belief that LA 2024 is the perfect partner to help the IOC strengthen and spread Olympic values in the U.S. and worldwide."
Olympic Day is held annually on June 23 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games in 1894 and is celebrated by millions of people in more than 160 countries. Its mission is to cultivate fitness, well-being, culture and education while promoting the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect, as well as the three pillars of Olympic Day: move, learn and discover.
Olympic Day events in the U.S. are heavily supported by members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic family. More than 50 NGBs and HPMOs are hosting events, highlighted by USA Gymnastics and U.S. Ski & Snowboard, while several more member organizations – including Boy Scouts of America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and YMCA of USA – also joined the celebration. For a complete list, click here.
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