The JOC Olympic Movement
The JOC conducts a variety of activities aimed at broadening understanding of the Olympic spirit (Olympism).
Outline of the Olympic Day Event Program
On 23 June, 1894, at the Sorbonne in Paris, a resolution was adopted, at the suggestion of Pierre de Coubertin, to revive the modern Olympic Games and to create the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The IOC recognizes this memorable day - 23 June - as Olympic Day and calls on National Olympic Committees (NOCs) around the world to stage tournaments and commemorative events in order to enlighten people about the Olympic Movement: To nurture a spirit of mutual understanding and friendship and to contribute to the construction of a peaceful and better world through sports. This represents the fundamental spirit of the Olympics.
In 1996, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the modern Olympic Games, 172 NOCs staged "Day Runs" and programs of rich local flavor incorporating art and culture. Such events have since been staged every year throughout the world.
Olympic Day Events in Japan
In response to the IOC's encouragement, the JOC stages a number of commemorative events every year with the goal of enhancing the Olympic Movement (the fundamental spirit of the Olympics). Among these Olympic Day celebrations, the central event is the Olympic Day Run, which is open to the general public and is held in countries around the world. The JOC has conducted Olympic Day Runs across Japan since 1987. The purpose of the Olympic Day Run is to spread understanding about the enjoyment of sports and the basic spirit of the Olympics by giving ordinary people the opportunity to run alongside Olympic athletes. The event consists mainly of a fun run over a distance of 5 km that is accessible to all people. Since 1998, the main event held in Tokyo has been renamed the Olympic Festival and its programs have been expanded to include sports clinics conducted by Olympians and the JOC Cup ekiden road relay. This festival attracts around 15,000 people every year. In addition, local Day Runs are held throughout the country in May, June and October, depending on the weather conditions in each area, and such events attract upwards of 2,000 participants each time.
Also, as a winter version of the Day Run based on cross-country skiing, the JOC has launched the world's first Olympic Snow Run, which attracts 3,000 participants. This means that the combined participation in Day Runs throughout the country exceeds 30,000 people every year.
Also, since 1997, the Olympic Concert, which combines classical music based around the Olympic Symphony and featuring images of sports, has been held every June in Tokyo to great acclaim.
Olympic Day Run
In commemoration of Olympic Day on June 23 and with the aim of enhancing the Olympic Movement, the Japanese Olympic Committee has staged the Olympic Day Run – in which members of the general public can enjoy jogging with Olympians - every year since 1987. The Olympic Day Run is one of many Olympic Day events staged throughout the world. The purpose of this event, which mainly comprises a fun run over a distance of 5 km that is accessible to all, is to spread understanding about the joy of sports and the basic spirit of the Olympics by giving ordinary people the opportunity to run with Olympic athletes.
From 2006, in addition to the main event of jogging, the program has been beefed up with the "JOC Challenge Test of Strength," together with various clinics and hands-on activities aimed at giving people greater access to the participating Olympians. Also, "Olympic Day Run Ambassadors" are dispatched to events as goodwill ambassadors to directly convey the Olympic Spirit in an open, easy-to-understand and enjoyable manner.
Olympic Festival
The Olympic Festival, the centerpiece of the Olympic Day Run activities, is held every year on Health and Sports Day, a national holiday in Japan. It is a hands-on sports event staged at Komazawa Olympic Park General Sports Ground and attracts approximately 12,000 participants. Based on the theme of "Olympics for Everybody," a 5-km jog with Olympians is staged in addition to around 20 other programs, including clinics and games for children and families led by Olympians in volleyball, table tennis, baseball, hockey, etc. Everybody has the opportunity to spend an autumn day enjoying sports.
Olympic Snow Run
The Olympic Snow Run is the cross-country skiing version of the Olympic Day Run. It is only staged in Japan, in March each year.
Olympic Concert
The Japanese Olympic Committee has staged the Olympic Concert as a cultural event since 1997. Based around the theme of "The Wonder of Sports Recreated through Images and Music," this event is like a classical concert blended together with Olympic images and interviews with Olympians projected onto multiple screens. The resulting harmony of sports and music can be enjoyed by all people (not just classical music fans) and recreates the excitement of the Olympics.