The Olympic Week celebrations in the lead up to Olympic Day, which took place yesterday Friday 23rd June, was celebrated with a myriad of sports activities centered around the 2023 Olympic Day theme; ‘Let’s Move’.
The celebrations took place in Goroka, Kavieng, Port Moresby and other centers in the country in conjunction with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and ExxonMobil PNG.
The initiative was supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) through its partnership with the IOC that combines the power of the Olympics and the WHO’s advice on physical activity to help inspire and motivate people to move for better health.
Since Papua New Guinea (PNG) joined the Olympic Movement in 1974, they have been part of the Olympic Day celebrations.
The important event in the Olympic Movement calendar has been celebrated worldwide since 1948.
It is celebrated to commemorate the establishment of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the Sorbonne, Paris in 1894 where the founder of the modern Olympic Games, Pierre de Coubertin, rallied for the revival of the Olympic Games.
It celebrates sport, health, togetherness, and help spread the Olympic ideals. Olympic Day provides a platform to inspire people to get active and move more for better health.
With the belief that sport can help make a better world, irrespective of whether you are a city, a school, an organization or an individual, everyone has the power to inspire others through movement.
Celebrations in the country started off the Let’s Move! Campaign in the Highlands region in Eastern Highlands together with the staff of the Papua New Guinea Sports Foundation arm in the province, the National Sports Institute and the junior-level students of Jolly Bee Day Care Center.
Celebrated activities then moved to the Islands region with activities in Kavieng, New Ireland Province.
The activities involved senior and junior basketballers of the Kavieng Amateur Basketball Association, including children, youth and adults that joined a beach clean-up, education and awareness on the Olympic Values, a fun game of Basketball and a Basketball Referees Rules refresher session, which was led by Team PNG HERO and Basketball PNG’s Hoops for Health Coach, Jordan Sere.
Meanwhile, in Port Moresby, the Olympic Day celebrations continued early this week at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG), where the Unity Games were held. Activities included information on the Let’s Move campaign, Olympic Values Education Program and Fun Games.
The celebrations ended with a 30-minute workout with PNG Olympians, Team PNG athletes and officials, Board members and staff of the PNG Olympic Committee.