LAHORE: The National Olympic Committee Pakistan, headed by Lt Gen (r) Syed Arif Hasan, on Thursday celebrated the Olympic Day with full zeal and enthusiasm. Former Pakistan hockey Olympians, many former cricket players, officials of the national sports federations, officials of the Pakistan Olympic Association and media personnel were present at the Olympic House to mark this special day and show solidarity with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Addressing the media, Arif Hasan, flanked by POA secretary general Muhammad Khalid Mahmood, said that every year the POA celebrates the Olympic Day by involving all segments of the society. “This is a special occasion. And we engage all – athletes and sports officials – to participate in this event according to the guidelines of the IOC,” he added. Arif Hasan said he was thankful to all athletes and sports officials for showing tremendous interest in the Olympic Day. “The POA has directed all provincial Olympic associations to hold various events and engage maximum youth in it as to groom them and show them the importance of the Olympics.” Arif Hasan also distributed shirts, certificates and medals among successful players and sports organisers. On 23 June, the Olympic Day is celebrated all around the world: hundreds of thousands of people – young and old – get moving and participate in sporting and cultural activities, such as runs, exhibitions, music and educational seminars. Over the last two decades, the event has helped to spread the Olympic ideals to every corner of the world. The Olympic Day was introduced in 1948 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games on 23 June 1894 at the Sorbonne in Paris. The goal was to promote participation in sport across the globe regardless of age, gender or athletic ability. Over the last 20 years, the Olympic Day has been associated with the Olympic Day Runs all over the world. From 45 participating National Olympic Committees (NOCs) in the first edition in 1987, today the large majority of the 205 NOCs is joining in. What’s more, many of the participating NOCs are in Africa – proving the event’s worldwide appeal. Nowadays, Olympic Day is developing into much more than just a sports event. Based on the three pillars “move”, “learn” and “discover”, National Olympic Committees are organising sports, cultural and educational activities. Some countries have incorporated the event into the school curriculum and, in recent years, many NOCs have added concerts and exhibitions to the celebration. Arif Hasan also informed media that the 33rd edition of the National Games will be organised from Nov 5-12 in Quetta. “The mega event will be participated by all affiliated units of the Pakistan Olympic Association belonging to all parts of the country.” He said, along with POA vice president Chaudhry Mohammad Yaqub, POA secretary Khalid, he held a meeting with officials of Balochistan government and Balochistan Olympic Association on Tuesday at Quetta to decide dates and other aspects of the event. “The POA will extend all out cooperation to the organisers for the successful holding of the Games,” he dded.