RP celebrates Olympic Day with fun runs

MANILA, Philippines – The country does its share in commemorating the 115th founding of the Olympic Movement as it stages the annual Olympic Day Run tomorrow at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

The event, which is part of a global event celebration, features a 10km run, a 3km fun run and a 3km wheelaton. It starts at 6 a.m.

Top Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) officials, heads of the various National Sports Associations (NSAs), athletes, students and running enthusiasts are expected to grace the annual affair held worldwide to promote mass participation in sports.

The Olympic Day Run is an international Olympic Movement activity first launched in 1987 through the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sports for All Commission.

Its staging comes on the commemoration date of the IOC’s founding. The Olympic Movement was first established on June 23, 1894 through the efforts of Pierre de Coubertin to promote competitive sport as a revival of the ancient Olympic Games.

This year’s celebration is made possible by the event’s principal sponsors led by the Department of Tourism, City of Manila under Mayor Alfredo Lim, City of Pasay under Mayor Pewee Trinidad, City of Makati under Mayor Jejomar Binay, Unilever, Milo and wushu official Julian Camacho.

POC spokesperson Joey Romasanta heads the organizing committee.

Registration is still ongoing at the POC office inside the Philsports Complex in Pasig City, the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) office at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, and at the office of race director Rudy Biscocho at #51 Annapolis St., Greenhills, San Juan.