Public school children of Rio celebrate the Olympic Day at the Olympic Park
All over the world the anniversary of the foundation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by Pierre de Coubertain, in 1894, is celebrated on 23rd June.
To honour the date, a full programme of cultural sport and cultural activities was sponsored by the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) on Thursday, 21st June to bring the community together around the Olympic ideals, approximately 360 children from Rio de Janeiro public school system and from projects of the Olympic Legacy Governance Authority (AGLO) took part in the event held in Arena 2 at Barra Olympic Park, which was highlighted by the presence of Beach Volleyball champion Emanuel Rego (gold medal at Athens 2004).
“It is a great pleasure to be able to celebrate the Olympic Day surrounded by children and inside the Olympic Park that was the heart of Rio Games. The NOC has two core missions: to promote Olympic sport and the Olympic values of friendship, respect and excellence. This is what we are offering these children today” the NOC general director Rogério Sampaio says. “Sport creates lifelong values. And further, sport promotes the benefits of physical activities, education and social inclusion. I’m sure these children will never forget this day, the encouragement words of Olympic champion Emanuel and the opportunity to get involved in Olympic sports” Rogério, Olympic Judo champion at the Barcelona Games 1992 commented.
The event to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Olympic Day was organized in partnership with project Transforma (Transform), the programme that promotes the Olympic values embraced by COB, AGLO and the Municipal Secretariat of Education of Rio de Janeiro, that took children from eight schools in Cidade de Deus and Jacarepaguá to take part in the activities. “It is with immense pleasure that we are welcoming each one of these children at the Olympic Park. Among them we may have great future champions, not just in sport but life champions also. Sport and education have the power to create life champions” AGLO president Paulo Márcio Dias says.
The children enjoyed an unforgettable morning. First, they saw a theater performance by Grupo Mosaico about the history of the creation of the Olympic Games. Next, they heard words of encouragement to sport practice and the Olympic values from Emanuel Rego, three times Olympic medallist, with a gold medal won in Athens 2004, side by side with team mate Ricardo. Last, the children were divided into six groups to take part in badminton, fencing, judo, wrestling, rugby and field hockey clinics. Ginga, Time Brazil mascot, was also there to encourage and entertain the kids.
Olympic champion Emanuel Rego took the gold medal conquered in Athens to show the children the result of an entire life of continuous efforts. But, according to Emanuel himself, a medal is not the greatest achievement of an athlete. “It is important to tell children from an early age that Olympic sport is not just abut medals, but also about the adoption of values that are of utmost importance to their development”, commented Emanuel, who entered five editions of the Olympic Games as beach volleyball athlete, and was elected the best player of the nineties by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). “I hope this Olympic Day celebration touches the hearts and minds of these children as it touched mine when I was 11 years old. I hope they will make the best of everything sport can offer. Respect, excellence and friendship, the Olympic values, that are critical to anybody wishing for a good life”, the three-time volleyball world champion added.
