Ready to celebrate Olympic Day with Milano Cortina 2026

The “Let's Move” campaign kicks off, to mark the IOC Foundation Day

Once again, since the first time in 1948, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has celebrated Olympic Day, which commemorates the Olympic values. A day when everyone can fully experience the spirit that accompanies the Olympics.

From 23 June, you too can become a protagonist of this year’s campaign entitled “Let’s Move and Celebrate”, a worldwide initiative inviting everyone to move and get active, while inspiring the athletes who will compete at the next Summer Olympic Games Paris 2024. And of course, everyone at Fan26 and Milano Cortina 2026 is ready to contribute.

The origins of Olympic Day

Why 23 June? To celebrate the exact day when the International Olympic Committee was founded (23 June 1894) at the Sorbonne in Paris, thanks to Baron Pierre de Coubertin. He wanted to revive the Olympic Games and create a modern version of the sporting competitions that the Ancient Greeks were passionate about.

The first Olympic Day was celebrated on 23 June 1948. On this occasion, Sigfrid Edström, then President of the IOC, passed on a message to young people all over the world. Portugal, Greece, Austria, Canada, Switzerland, Great Britain, Uruguay, Venezuela and Belgium organised an Olympic Day in their respective countries.

How do you celebrate Olympic Day?

The National Olympic Committees displayed great creativity, by holding events around the world on Olympic Day with a common premise: to involve everyone, regardless of their age, gender, social background or sporting ability. Some countries have even included the event in school curricula.

Everyone can participate in this day, and since so many people are involved everywhere, why not join in the celebrations? Nowadays, races for Olympic Day are organised all over the world, such as in Lausanne, the Olympic “capital”, where the IOC has its headquarters.

First launched in 1987, the race aimed to encourage all National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to celebrate Olympic Day and promote recreational sport. It was a huge success: from 45 NOCs participating in the first edition in 1987, it expanded to include more than a hundred.

And what better way to continue this tradition and celebrate this international initiative, created with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO)? Follow @milanocortina2026 on Instagram and TikTok and unleash your Italian Spirit! Post your video on social media showing how you celebrate, how you move, how you want to inspire and cheer on the Champions of Paris 2024. We’re waiting for you! Move with us at Milano Cortina 2026 and tag us in your #LetsMove poses, using also the #fan2026.