On the occasion of World Refugee Day (20 June) and Olympic Day (23 June), we invite you on Wednesday 22 June at 18:00 to the commemoration event Get Active on #OlympicDay #WithRefugees. The event will start with a “Kotinodromia,”a relay run with children and athletes holding an olive branch (“kotinos”) from the Acropolis Museum to the Zappeion Megaron Park where Olympic sports, artistic activities and musical festivities will take place.
What is World Refugee Day?
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is making every effort to create a world where each person forced to flee his/her home, can find protection and to build a better future. On World Refugee Day we commemorate the strength, courage and resilience of millions of refugees. This year, World Refugee Day also marks a key moment for the public to show support for families forced to flee.
By signing the petition #WithRefugees, people from all over the world call world governments to act with solidarity and shared responsibility. Sign the petition #WithRefugees today!
What is Olympic Day?
The first Olympic Day was celebrated in 1948 on 23 June, to commemorate the establishment of the International Olympic Committee in Paris on 23 June 1894. The Olympic Day is commemorated every year in all countries, but nowadays it is something much more than a simple sports event. It has evolved into the only annual worldwide celebration of the Olympic Movement that promotes a healthy and active lifestyle. Based on the fundamental three pillars “Move”, “Learn”, and “Discover,” National Olympic Committees are organizing sports, cultural and educational activities for all, regardless of age, gender, social background or athletic skills.
This year’s Olympic Day carrying on the message GetActive on #OlympicDay is rather special, since for the first time ever, during the Olympic Games 2016 hosted in Rio, Brazil, an Olympic Refugee Team will compete wearing the Olympic Flag’s colors.
What will happen on 22 June in Athens?
On Wednesday, 22 June, a relay run will take place from the Acropolis Museum to the Zappeion Megaron Park. The total route will be covered by Greek and refugee children together with Olympic athletes and medal winners. The “kotinos”, an olive branch symbolizing victory in the Ancient Olympic Games, is part of an artistic installation, the “Olympic Values Tree.” Refugee children took part in the preparation of the tree-artistic installation, with drawings using gold, silver and bronze colors reminding of the medals, and by writing messages and Olympic values and principles on the leaves of each branch.
At the end of the relay route, all olive branches carried by children taking part in the relay will be placed on the “Olympic Values Tree,” together with the messages and values of the Olympic Idea, as well as everyone’s hopes and dreams for a safer future.
Olympic sports activities such as handball, archery, football, etc. will take place in the Zappeion Megaron Park as of 19:30, while there will be live music and a specific area where all participants can draw on the main topic: OLYMPIC DAY – WOLRD REFUGEE DAY 2016! And of course they will have the opportunity to sign the petition #WithRefugees!
The event is jointly organized by the Hellenic Olympic Committee, the Hellenic Olympic Academy, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Greece, the International Olympic Truce Center, the Hellenic Olympic Winners Association, and the Thessaloniki Olympic Museum. Special thanks to Ms. Foteini Konstantopoulou, UNHCR High Profile Supporter, for her support.
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
