Olympic Day Celebration: Stakeholders, Enthusiasts, Call For More Commitment To Olympic Values
The 47th Olympic Day was celebrated on Saturday, 29/6/24, across the world. It is a day set aside by the global sporting community to commemorate the quadrennial sports fiesta and highlight the numerous multilateral benefits accruable from the game.
In Enugu State, stakeholders including the clergy, and enthusiasts converged on the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, UNEC Mini-stadium to perform all the rites of the sporting Union.
While giving the historical background of legacy of the event, the President, National Institute of Sports Supporters’ Club, Nigeria, which is the main organising Committee of the Olympic Day Celebration, Dr Hossanna James, highlighted the landmark achievements recorded to the benefit of the entire world.
“The event encourages everyone around the world to play an active part in sports and experience the Olympic values in their countries.
Olympic Day Celebration which used to be referred to as OLYMPIC DAY RUN was established in 1987 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to commemorate the formation of the IOC which was created on the 23rd June,1894 by Paris Congress under the leadership of Frenchman,Baron Pierre De Coubertin”, Hosanna recalled.
He called on Nigerians, especially, sports enthusiasts from the South East, to identify with the objectives of the event, through their contributions to the sustenance of the Olympic values.
“The celebration was first organised in Nigeria in 1989 with the objectives of promoting sports and values by bringing together hundreds of thousands of people across the globe.
“On this day,all the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) with people of all ages and from all walks of life come together as an instrument to cement National Unity and grassroots sports development”, he explained.
He further noted that the event is marked to encourage everyone around the world to play an active part in sports and experience the Olympic values in their countries.
As an event which objectives are, among other things, the promotion of unity and moral values, some notable men of God, including Rev. Victor Keri, Pastor Henry Oshiokpu and Pastor Emmanuel Ogbegie, offered prayers for the continued promotion of peace and unity of the world through Olympics.
As customary to the event, participants used the occasion to make donations as support funds for sports and commitment to the welfare of the less privileged in society.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, while he is presently on his M.Sc programme also in Mass Communication, at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is currently the NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
