LA84 Foundation's celebration highlights 400 Olympic Day events in the United States

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Highlighted by the LA84 Foundation’s celebration in Los Angeles, the United States Olympic Committee is hosting more than 400 events in honor of 2018 Olympic Day. Events are scheduled in nearly 200 communities nationwide, with nearly 45,000 people engaged in celebration of the Olympic and Paralympic movements.

"Olympic Day is an honored tradition that brings together communities around the world to celebrate the values of Olympism," said USOC Acting CEO Susanne Lyons. "We are so proud of the hundreds of inspiring Team USA athletes, National Governing Bodies and Multi-Sport Organizations that help spread the power of sport and Olympic values to the next generation of Team USA athletes and fans."

Celebrating under the theme "Move, Learn and Discover," the LA84 Foundation and more than 11,000 students will observe 2018 Olympic Day on June 22 by partnering with 127 of Beyond The Bell’s elementary and middle schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Each school will receive an activation package, including a welcome letter, LA84 and USOC Olympic Day banners, instructions for a team handball sport experience and more.

"We are proud to provide young Angelenos the chance to learn, take part in, and be inspired by Olympic Day and the values it supports," said Renata Simril, president and CEO of the LA84 Foundation. "Every day is Olympic Day for the LA84 Foundation, and this opportunity will positively change the lives of the youth that we serve. The LA84 Foundation’s goal, play for all, aims to get every child’s life ready through sports, regardless of zip code."

Additionally, the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center is hosting a free event featuring a public tour, meet and greet with Team USA athletes and a cauldron lighting ceremony conducted by Mayor John Suthers. Earlier this month, 28 local students were honored with the Olympic Ideals Award for exemplifying the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect. The award was granted by Olympic City USA and the students were recognized with a special ceremony on June 11 at the OTC.

Olympic Day is held annually on June 23 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games in 1894 and is celebrated by millions of people in more than 160 countries. Its mission is to cultivate fitness, well-being, culture and education, while promoting the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect, as well as the three pillars of Olympic Day: move, learn and discover.

Olympic Day events in the U.S. are heavily supported by members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic family. More than 50 Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Para Pan American athletes are attending events hosted by NGBs, while several other member organizations are also joining the celebration, including Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, YMCA of USA and numerous BMX clubs.

For more information on Olympic Day celebrations in the U.S., visit TeamUSA.org/OlympicDay, and join the social conversation using #OlympicDay. Additional Olympic Day resources can be found on the International Olympic Committee’s website at Olympic.org/OlympicDay.

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only