Mizoram Governor Flagged-Off Olympic Day Run

Aizawl: The Mizoram Governor Lt. Gen (Rtd) M.M.Lakhera, PVSM, AVSM, VSM flagged-off the Olympic Day Run from the A.R.Ground at 6:30 A.M. this morning. The Olympic Day Run was organised by Mizoram Olympic Association and 1695 athletes from 19 Sports Associations participated in this event. The Olympic Day Run covered a distance of around 2 kilometres from the A.R.Ground to Government Higher Secondary School Field, Mc Donald Hill where Pu Zodintluanga, Sports & Youth Services Minister and Senior Vice-President Mizoram Olympic Association distributed prizes to the participants.

In his flag-off speech, the Governor emphatically said that sport has been promoting friendship and brotherhood among people of different cultures, and encouraged the mizo youth to nurture and develop their sporting talents to make a mark in the National and International arenas.

At the Olympic Day Run closing function, Minister Pu Zodintluanga said that apart from its playful nature, Sports also aimed at rebuilding social life in a better way and it is high time we put our heart and soul into everything we do to succeed. He also encouraged the sports personalities present there by saying that if they put more sincere effort to any sporting discipline they are in, they have a great chance to make a name in the world.

The Minister also felicitated the winners of the 16th Asian Games Youth Across Asia Essay & Art Competition held on Mat 10, 2010. He also distributed prizes to various Sports Associations participating in the Olympic Day Run today. The top three participating Associations are :

1. Mizoram Amateur Taekwondo Associations - 335 members
2. Mizoram Judo Association - 302 members
3. Mizoram Athletics Association - 117 members

In 1987, in an effort to encourage all National Olympic Committees to commemorate and celebrate Olympic Day, the IOC Sport for All Commission launched the Olympic Day Run concept with the objective of promoting the practice of participation in sport by men, women and children from all corners of the world and all walks of life, regardless of athletic ability. The first Olympic Day Run was held in 1987, over a distance of 10km, with 45 participating NOCs. In 2006, there were 161 NOCs promoting Olympic Day Run to their countrymen.

The Olympic Day Run is usually held during June 17-24 by NOCs, with 1.5 KM Olympic Day Fun Run, 5 KM, and 10 KM running activities.

In Mizoram, the Olympic Day Run has been organised annually since 2006.