Over 300 people in four race categories took part in the Olympic Day run, which was held at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, the motorsport circuit located in Sakhir.

Bahrain National Olympic Committee (NOC) President Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the event patron, officially started the day of activities.

He was joined by Asian Football Confederation President and NOC vice-president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.

“This occasion is a celebration for youth around the world to observe the Olympic values of fair play, perseverance, respect and sportsmanship,” said Shaikh Nasser.

“Our purpose of bringing the event is to celebrate the three pillars of the International Olympic Committee: Move, Learn and Discover.”

Face painting, a parachute airshow, along with karate and judo performances were also held as part on the celebrations, as well as children’s competitions and games.

An open cycling race was staged and coincided with the launch of The Kingdom of Bahrain Cycling Team, with Shaikh Nasser claiming it would help attract more young people to take part in the sport.

“The formation of the team will definitely further enable the Kingdom to become the home of cycling sport in the region as well as represent a great leap towards promoting the Kingdom of Bahrain in line with its 2030 vision,” he told the Bahrain News Agency.

"Our participation in these competitions will affirm our desire to take part in various sporting events, and will help also expand the number of practitioners to this sport in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

"The cycling races have become amongst the most important events in the Kingdom of Bahrain with many Bahraini youths and residents as well as many from outside the Kingdom have shown their keenness to participate in them.”