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Finally the real sport holiday came to Kyiv – the Olympic Day which was organized by the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, Ministry of Ukraine for Family, Youth and Sports under the auspices of Ukrainian Athletics Federation and with the support of the company McDonald’s Ukraine. Companies BonAqua and Nike became the sponsors of the event.
Let us remind you that the Olympic Day is held annually to commemorate the creation of the International Olympic Committee. By the way, this year the main Olympic body celebrates its 115th anniversary.
From the very morning sport music sounded across the Independence Square in the centre of the city. Kyivites and guests of the city eagerly participated in different contests to win prizes.
But the majority of people gathered near the tables to register in the athletics run. Anyone could participate in one of 9 heats regardless of age or physical capacities (preschoolers, schoolchildren 7-14 y.o. and 15-17 y.o., students, sport amateurs and veterans and heats for disabled sportsmen) with distances from 100 to 1000 meters.
Over 2000 people registered so uncompromising action was about to begin.
President of the National Olympic Committee Mr. Sergiy Bubka started the symbolic heat in which participated: Minister of Ukraine for Family, Youth and Sports Mr. Yuriy Pavlenko, the Chairman of the Committee for Family, Youth, Sport and Tourism of Ukrainian Parliament Mr. Pavlo Kostenko, Deputy Chairman of the Kyiv State Administration Mr. Vitaliy Zhuravskyy, Chairman of the Committee on Physical Education and Sport of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine Mr. Vyacheslav Gamov, Managing Director of McDonald’s Ukraine Mr. Ian Borden, officers of the Nike company, Olympic Champions and prizewinners: Ms. Yana Klochkova, Mr. Elbrus Tedeev, Ms. Iryni Merleni, Mr. Valeriy Goncharov, Ms. Inesa Kravets, Mr. Denys Silantyev, Ms. Svitlana Maziy, Mr. Oleksandr Krykun, Ms. Ganna Sorokina.
After the symbolic heat the real competitions started. But those who didn’t win the first prize were not upset because everyone received certificate of participant signed by the IOC President Mr. Jacques Rogge and President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine Mr. Sergiy Bubka and presents from the Ukrainian NOC and from the sponsors of the Olympic Day.
Mr. Sergiy Bubka said that the Olympic Day is the unique holiday as it is more than sports. «While conducting Olympic Day we try to unite everyone around Olympic ideals and to inspire as many people as possible to go in for sport. Being healthy is trendy. Look at happy faces of Olympic champions, prizewinners and all who took part in the run this sunny day to celebrate IOC’s 115th anniversary. And such runs are navigated today all-over Ukraine», stressed President of the NOC.
All the winners are honored, gifts are presented but Olympic Day is going on. Quiz «Expert on the Olympic Sport» and other cultural activities are still to come today with the participation of the famous Olympians, artists, politicians and public figures. The competition of pole vault stars «Pole Vaulting in the Independence Square» will become a special appeal of the celebration.

Photos of the Olympic Day 2009 you may find at the NOC of Ukraine website in the section «Photogallery».


NOC of Ukraine
www.noc-ukr.org