The event, run in association with the city of Buenos Aires, was attended by elite athletes from a range of sports, including Olympic gold medal winning cyclist Walter Pérez, boxer Alberto Melia and 2014 Beach Games medallists Liliana Pattern and Gastón Etchegonen.

Celebrations included an array of sports activities and exhibitions, with the event also used as an opportunity to showcase the preparations for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.

"Here we are developing an activity together with the autonomous city of Buenos Aires and in tune with what will be the next Youth Olympic Games doing a great sports shows," said COA secretary general Mario Moccia.

"All sports are within the Argentine Olympic Committee through exhibits and booths where each samples its activity and opens the whole community."

"We found in this space and this time a moment to share, to enjoy and interact."

Thousands of sports fans gathered in the forests of Palermo in Buenos Aires to celebrate Olympic Day ©COA



Moccia was joined at the event by Francisco Irarrazaval, secretary of sport for the city of Buenos Aires, and Daniel Jacubovich, director general of Enard, the national board of high performance in Argentina.

The celebrations started at around 1pm local time in Argentina as athletes, fans and sporting officials commemorated the historic date on June 23 when Baron Pierre de Coubertin created the International Olympic Committee.

"For all high performance athletes, [to] have that Olympic flame lit, is a very special and emotional day," said Pérez.

"Today, in the city of Buenos Aires to see so many kids participating in all stands, and knowing that in 2018 we will have the Youth Olympic Games, one athlete like this and so excited to retire."

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