The Olympic Day Run, usually held from June 17-24 is an international Olympic Movement Activity promoting mass participation of sports held in June, organized by National Olympic Committees (NOCs). In 1987 in an effort to encourage all NOCs to commemorate and celebrate Olympic Day, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sport for All Commission, launched the Olympic Day Run concept with the objective of promoting the practice of participation in sport.
The St Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) will stage its own Olympic Day Run on Sunday. Proceedings get underway at 9:30 am with an opening ceremony, to be followed by a number of activities being staged at the Vigie Multi-Purpose Sports Complex and the Sab Sporting Facility. The following sports associations have confirmed their intention to participate: Basketball, Netball, Volleyball, Athletics, Cycling, Boxing, Karate, Taekwondo, Table Tennis and Football.
Speaking at a press conference at Olympic
House on Barnard Hill earlier this week, Secretary General of the (SLOC), Alfred Emmanuel said: “The activities will take the form of sports specific activities, but at the same time the general public will be able to participate.”
In the past the Olympic Day Run preceded the activities. However, this time around it takes place following the completion of the day’s events.
The starting line for the fun run/ walk which gets underway at 4 pm is near the Red Cross Building at Vigie. From there participants proceed north along the John Compton Highway turn left on to Nelson Mandela Drive to St Mary’s College, then make a loop and head back to the Red Cross Building.
Keeping in mind that the Olympic Day Run celebrates Olympic Day from June 17-24, the SLOC is staging an Olympic Exhibition. It takes place from June 19-21 inside the Blue Coral Mall on the ground floor. On display will be various exhibits the SLOC has collected over the years.
Emmanuel said: “The exhibit provides the public with the opportunity to put a face to the name of past Olympians, by displaying pictures of the athletes who have represented St Lucia at the various Olympic Games from 1996 to 2008.”
