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2 days to go to Olympic Day: Olympic Day Run to celebrate 100 years of the IOC in Lausanne

21 | 6 | 2015

The traditional Olympic Day run will be held in the Olympic Capital of Lausanne on Friday 26 June with this year's occasion doubling up to mark the 100th anniversary of the IOC being headquartered in the Swiss city. This year's event will consist of two activities: a 5km walk which starts at the The Olympic Museum and an 11km run which will start in the heart of the city. Both events will take in Olympic landmarks along the way before finishing at the Pierre de Coubertin Stadium.

For a second consecutive year, Olympians who are enrolled on the AISTS [Academy of Sports Science and Technology] MSA course will lead the pre-race warm-up for more than 1,000 participants. The 15-minute warm-up aims to get the participants prepared for the activities but it is also seen as a fun way to gather the runners and walkers together at the start of the event.

The warm-up for the 5km walk will be led by Slaven Dizdarevic, a Decathlete who competed at the Beijing 2008 Olympics for Slovakia. He will be supported by Scott Richardson, a South African cyclist who competed at Barcelona 1992 and Marie Ntanou, a Cross-Country skier who competed at Vancouver 2010.

The warm-up for the 11km run will be led by Wilson Kipketer of Denmark who won Silver at Sydney 2000 and Bronze at Athens 2004 in the 800m. He will be supported by Anne-Sophie Thilo, a member of the Swiss Sailing team at Beijing 2008 and Hisham Shebab, a Bahraini Swimmer who competed at Athens 2004. 

Wilson Kipketer, who enrolled on the AISTS MSA course this year, said:

"We are delighted to once again be involved in the traditional Olympic Day run here at the home of Olympism. This year's event should be extra special as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the IOC being based in the Lausanne while also promoting the unique values that embody the Olympic Movement and the spirit of Pierre de Coubertin.

"This will be a fun day out where children and adults of all ages can come together, get active and celebrate the values of sport. I'm sure it will be a great celebration of everything the Olympic Movement stands for."

The WOA would like to share your inspirational Olympic Day stories, events and pictures on our digital and social platforms so please let us know about any planned Olympic Day activities by contacting: info@thewoa.org