Olympic Day observed

In 1947, during the 41st Session of the IOC (International Olympic Committee) a member from the Czechoslovakia proposed the idea of an Olympic Day Celebration which would be dedicated to promoting the Olympic ideals.

Few months later, on the 42nd session of the IOC, the National Olympic Committees was put in charge of organizing the event and were given the option of choosing a date between June 17 and 24.

The first Olympic Day was celebrated on June 23, 1948.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Mongolia’s first medal from the Olympics and 10th anniversary of the first gold medal from the Olympic Games. Mongolians mark Olympic Day, or Athletes’ Day as it’s known in Mongolia, to celebrate the achievements of national athletes.

The Implementing Agency of the Government, the Physical Culture and Sports Authority and the Mongolian Olympic Committee jointly celebrated Olympic Day at the Central Sports Palace on June 23.

This year’s Athletes’ Day honored the best athletes of the Olympics, Paralympics and world medalists of Mongolia. Representations from different generations of athletes came to D.Sukhbaatar’s statue at the center of Sukhbaatar Square to lay wreath. More events took place at the Central Sport Palace and Central Square.

Much has changed since Mongolia’s first participation in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and the first medal from the 1968 Olympics of Mexico. So far, Mongolia has won a total of 24 medals.

Gold Medalists:

1. N. Tuvshinbayar - Beijing 2008, judo 2. E. Badar-Uugan - Beijing 2008, boxing

Silver Medalists:

1. J. Munkhbat - Mexico 1968, freestyle wrestling 2. Kh.Bayanmunkh - Munich 1972, freestyle wrestling 3. Z.Oidov - Montreal 1976, Freestyle wrestling 4. J.Davaajav - Moscow 1980, freestyle wrestling 5. Ts.Damdin - Moscow 1980, judo 6. O.Gundegmaa - Beijing

2008, shooting 7. P.Serdamba - Beijing 2008, boxing 8. N.Tuvshinbayar - London

2012, judo 9. N.Tugstsogt - London 2012, boxing

10. D.Sumya - Rio 2016, judo

Bronze medals:

1. Ch.Damdamsharav – Mexico 1968, freestyle wrestling 2. D.Sereeter - Mexico 1968, freestyle wrestling 3. A.Artag – Mexico 1968 freestyle wrestling 4. D.Oyunbold – Moscow 1980, freestyle wrestling 5. R.Davaadalai – Moscow 1980, judo 6. N.Enkhbat – Seoul 1988 boxing 7. N.Bayarsaikhan – Barcelona 1992, boxing 8. D. Munkhbayar – Barcelona 1992, shooting 9. D.Narmandah – Atlanta

1996, judo 10. Kh.Tsagaanbaatar – Athens 2004, judo 11. S.Nyam-Ochir - London

2012, judo 12. S.Battsetseg - London 2012, freestyle wrestling 13. U.Munkh-Erdene - London 2012, boxing 14. D.Otgontalai - Rio de Janeiro 2016, boxing

Some of the district’s sport halls were open to the public on Olympic Day.