Bhubaneswar, Jun 23: As the world marks International Olympic Day, India joins the global celebration of sport, unity, and the enduring Olympic spirit. Observed annually on June 23, Olympic Day commemorates the founding of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894 by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, heralding the birth of the modern Olympic Games.

India, which first participated in the Olympics in 1900, has since become a steadfast contributor to the Olympic movement. Though the country has never hosted the Olympic Games, it has organized major international sporting events such as the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 1982 Asian Games.

India is now actively bidding to host the 2036 Summer Olympics, with Ahmedabad proposed as the lead city. Over the years, Indian athletes have steadily carved their place in Olympic history.

From Norman Pritchard’s silver medals in 1900 to Neeraj Chopra’s historic gold in javelin at Tokyo 2020 and silver at Paris 2024, India has amassed a total of 41 Olympic medals — 10 gold, 10 silver, and 21 bronze. The nation’s dominance in field hockey during the 20th century remains legendary, with eight golds between 1928 and 1980.

This year’s Olympic Day theme, “Let’s Move,” resonates deeply with India’s growing emphasis on fitness and youth engagement. As the country aspires to host the Games, Olympic Day serves as both a celebration of past triumphs and a rallying call for future glory.