Barbados prepares for Olympic Day. GETTY IMAGES

The Barbados Olympic Association Inc. has planned a schedule of activities to celebrate Olympic Day on 23 June.
These activities will commence on 17 June and conclude on 21 June with a daily virtual community walk to promote healthy habits and a 2km and 5km run. Prizes will be awarded to participating National Federations.

The Barbados Olympic Association Inc. (BOA) is thrilled to be part of the 2024 Olympic Day celebrations with three events scheduled for this month. The 23rd of June has become the only annual global celebration of the Olympic Movement. It is always used to promote healthy lifestyles.

This year, a campaign theme has been chosen: "Let's Move and Celebrate". The aim is to promote these healthy habits, especially among the younger generation. The BOA has planned a programme of activities starting on Monday 17 June and ending on Saturday 22 June 2024.

The first event is a week-long virtual walk from Monday 17 June to Friday 21 June. Participants will have the opportunity to register their walking distance each day via the Relive app. A special category will be organised for national federations. Participants can join individually or in groups at any time and any place during the event. The BOA has also created a special category for schools.

Athlete Obadele Thompson won the country's only Olympic medal at the Summer Games, a bronze in the 100 metres at Sydney 2000. GETTY IMAGES
Athlete Obadele Thompson won the country's only Olympic medal at the Summer Games, a bronze in the 100 metres at Sydney 2000. GETTY IMAGES

The National Federation and school with the highest average team distance will receive a prize. To be eligible for the prize, National Federations must enter 20 or more participants and schools must enter 50 or more. There will also be two Glow events on Saturday 22 June, the day before Olympic Day.

The Glow 2K Fun Run & Walk will take place at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex and the Glow 5K Run will start and finish at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex. Two kilometres of family fun and a more challenging race. On a first come, first served basis, a limited number of BOA Olympic Day Glow shirts will be available.

Director of the National Olympic Academy, Vaneisha Cadogan, said: "We hope that Olympic Day will increase participation.
Cadogan said: "We invite everyone to support this year's Olympic Day activities. These events are fun and designed for everyone as we provide opportunities to encourage physical activity.

The Olympic athlete from Barbados, Sada Williams. GETTY IMAGES
The Olympic athlete from Barbados, Sada Williams. GETTY IMAGES

Like Barbados, other countries are preparing their Olympic Day celebrations. The Nigerian Olympic Committee, for whom the Olympic Games have changed the way they look at sport, is one of the countries that recently unveiled its activities.
And like Nigeria, other countries are gearing up because Olympic Day is the only celebration of the Olympic Movement that is shared and unites everyone equally. This year will be special. There is only about a month to go before the Paris Olympics, which will influence the celebrations

The Barbados Olympic Association was founded in 1951 and was recognised by the International Olympic Committee in the same year. The country has been part of thirteen editions of the Summer Olympics since its debut in Mexico in 1968.
Athlete Obadele Thompson won the country's only Olympic medal at the Summer Games, a bronze in the 100 metres at Sydney 2000. Barbados has never been part of the Winter Olympics.