Continuing to increase participation numbers each year since 2010, the United States Olympic Committee today announced another record-setting year for the number of Olympic Day celebrations projected to be held across the United States in 2014. With 1,055 events to be hosted in 813 communities representing every state, an estimated 500,000 Americans will celebrate the Olympic Movement this summer.
Olympic Day, officially celebrated June 23, has been recognized each year since 1948 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games on June 23, 1894. An International Olympic Committee initiative, Olympic Day’s mission is to promote fitness, well-being, culture and education, while promoting the Olympic values – excellence, friendship and respect – and the three Olympic Day pillars – move, learn and discover – in every corner of the globe.
“Olympic Day is an opportunity to celebrate the Olympic Movement and to learn about the Olympic values of friendship, excellence and respect,” said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun. “The USOC is proud to take part and grow this global celebration by sharing the fundamentals of Olympism with hundreds of thousands of youth throughout the United States.”
In 2014, Olympic Day activities are being held on six continents with several thousand events worldwide and more than 150 participating National Olympic Committees.
This year, Olympic Day activities in the United States will feature appearances from 488 U.S. athletes, including Gabby Douglas, London 2012 Olympic all-around and team gymnastics champion; Erin Hamlin, Sochi 2014 Olympic bronze medalist in luge; Greg Louganis, four-time Olympic champion in diving; Brenda Villa, four-time Olympic medalist in water polo, most recently winning gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games; and Chris Waddell, 13-time Paralympic medalist in alpine skiing and track & field.
One of the more prominent Olympic Day events being held in the United States this summer is the Denver Sevens Rugby Tournament in Commerce City, Colorado, which will highlight rugby’s Olympic debut at the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The June 21 event is expected to host 1,000 participants and feature a special appearance by Jason Regier, a Paralympic champion and bronze medalist in wheelchair rugby, which has been on the Paralympic sport program since 2000.
Additionally, USA Cycling, in partnership with USA BMX, is helping to host the most events by any individual organization with 265 events planned at BMX tracks across the country, followed by Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which is hosting 177 Olympic Day events nationwide. Support from National Governing Bodies also reached an all-time high with 41 of 48 NGBs and their affiliated clubs hosting 510 events.
Olympic Day events in the U.S. are heavily supported by members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic family, and the following member organizations have registered to participate in 2014 Olympic Day activities:
• Amateur Athletic Union
• SHAPE America (Formerly AAHPERD)
• Blaze Sports America
• Boy Scouts of America
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America
• Catholic Youth Organization
• Deaf Sports USA
• Disabled Sports USA
• Dwarf Athletic Association
• Jewish Community Centers
• Maccabi USA
• National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
• National Association of Police Athletic League
• National Collegiate Athletic Association
• National Congress of State Games
• National Federation of State High Schools Association
• National Governing Bodies
• National Recreation and Parks Association
• National Senior Games Association
• Olympic & Paralympic Training Sites
• Olympic Training Centers
• Paralympic Sport Clubs
• Special Olympics, Inc.
• Underwater Society of America
• United States Air Force
• United States Army
• United States Association of Blind Athletes
• United States Coast Guard
• United States Marine Corps
• United States Navy
• United States Olympians and Paralympians Association
• US Orienteering Federation
• US Polo Association
• USA Dance
• USOC Athletes’ Advisory Council
• Wheelchair and Ambulatory Sports USA
• YMCA of the USA
• YWCA of the USA
For more information on Olympic Day celebrations in the United States or to find an event, visit TeamUSA.org/OlympicDay, email [email protected], or follow and join the conversation on Twitter with the #OlympicDay hashtag. Additional Olympic Day resources can be found on the International Olympic Committee’s website, Olympic.org/OlympicDay, including a video featuring U.S. Olympians Michael Phelps and Lindsey Vonn.
Swimming News courtesy of the USOC.