Olympic Day was successfully celebrated today in Podgorica, marking a special event that commemorates Olympic values and promotes sports and a healthy lifestyle. The Montenegrin Olympic Committee organized the celebration with the support of Olympic Solidarity and the Capital City of Podgorica. Olympic Day provides a unique opportunity to reflect on the significance of sports and its impact on our lives. The festivities included various sports activities, with a ceremonial gathering at the open fields of the Sports Center "Morača" in Podgorica being the main event. Attendees had the chance to enjoy mini competitions among sports clubs from Podgorica, including sports such as handball, volleyball, teqball, football, and athletics. They also had the opportunity to interact with Montenegrin Olympians. Dušan Simonović, the President of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee, emphasized the importance of Olympic Day in promoting Olympic values. He highlighted that "Olympic Day reminds us of the unity, fair play, solidarity, and sportsmanship that bind us together. Through sports, we learn the values of teamwork, perseverance, discipline, and respect. This event serves as an occasion to celebrate the achievements of our athletes and support them in their future performances at international competitions." Speeches were also delivered by Vasilije Lalošević, the Minister of Sports and Youth in the Government of Montenegro, and Miloš Antić, the Assistant Secretary of the Secretariat for Culture and Sports of the Capital City. The celebration of Olympic Day in Montenegro holds special significance as our country takes pride in its Olympians and their remarkable accomplishments. Our athletes have recently achieved outstanding results at the Games of the Small States of Europe, bringing us great joy and pride. Furthermore, this celebration provided an opportunity to greet and wish success to our athletes who will soon be competing at the European Games in Krakow. Their dedication, strength, and courage serve as an inspiration to all of us, and we firmly believe that they will achieve extraordinary results at this prestigious sporting event. The first celebration of Olympic Day took place on June 23, 1948, when nine National Olympic Committees (NOCs) organized events to commemorate the anniversary of the establishment of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894. Exactly 75 years later, 130 NOCs across five continents are marking this day, with approximately five million people participating in the celebrations. This global celebration of the Olympic spirit includes millions of individuals who embrace Olympic values such as excellence, friendship, and respect, following the theme of Olympic Day - "Move, Learn, Discover". Its aim is to inspire people worldwide to dedicate time to daily physical activity. As the world becomes increasingly fast-paced, people are becoming less active. Research shows that over 80 percent of young people fail to reach the recommended daily level of activity for optimal mental and physical health. "On Olympic Day, we celebrate the Olympic Movement's mission to make the world a better place through sport," said IOC President Thomas Bach. "When we do sport, it keeps our mind and body strong and healthy. When we do sport, it inspires us to always give it our best and it makes us dream, it spreads joy and brings us together. This year, together with the WHO, we are highlighting the positive impacts sport has on both physical and mental health. We want to inspire the world to move more every day. Sport and physical activity are the low-cost, high-impact tool for healthy bodies and healthy minds and resilient communities."
