Chicago 2016 and Tokyo 2016 are celebrating International Olympic Day Tuesday, which commemorates the founding of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) established under the leadership of Baron Pierre de Coubertin in Paris June 23, 1894.
Chicago 2016 is hosting Fun Runs for 30,000 young people in parks all around the city. There will be celebrity participants, including Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Michael Conley, and Paralympian April Holmes.
About 750 children are expected to take part in the Washing Park Fun Run, CBS Chicago reports.
There are also two three-mile Fun Runs for adults, as well as competitions in beach volleyball, basketball, wheelchair basketball, soccer and fencing.
A concert will be held in the evening on the beach.
Tokyo 2016 held its Olympic Day celebrations earlier in the month, which included the Olympic Day Run in Osaka and the JOC Olympic Concert in Tokyo.
The Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) hosted the Olympic Day Run on June 7. The 5-km Fun Run was open to the general public.
The JOC also hosted an evening of classical music to jointly celebrate International Olympic Day and Tokyo 2016. Thousands of people turned out for the event.
Dr. Ichiro Kono, Chair and CEO of Tokyo 2016 said, “after two symbolic Olympic Day events held earlier this month, today we call on the citizens of Japan, Asia, and the world to unite together in a spirit of peace, international fellowship, and our mutual passion for sport. In celebrating International Olympic Day, Tokyo 2016 reaffirms its commitment to the Olympic Movement and to setting the stage for heroes through a Games in the heart of the city”.
