An Olympic Day celebration has been held in Minsk ©NOC RB

The acting first vice-president of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus (NOC RB), Viktor Lukashenko, has hailed the significance of Olympic Day during a celebration in Minsk.

Lukashenko, the son of Belarus and NOC RB President Alexander, attended the opening ceremony of the event, held at Sports Complex "Alimpiyski" on Surganova Street.

He also gave certificates to the six Belarusian gold medallists from the 2019 European Youth Olympic Festival, held in Azerbaijan's capital Baku in July.

Belarus' Minister of Sports and Tourism, Sergey Kovalchuk, awarded the two silver and six bronze medallists.

The Olympic Day celebration saw representatives from more than 40 sports offer all those present the opportunity to try out numerous disciplines, including archery, athletics, basketball, biathlon, football, golf, rowing, tennis and volleyball.

"Our holiday is designed to unite people from young to old," Lukashenko said.

"I am sincerely glad that the celebration of the international Olympic Day in our country has become a good tradition. 

"I wish you all good health, worthy to pass all the tests, complete all the tasks on the sports grounds, and help adults pick up the kids a sport that they will practice and enjoy training.

"I wish all the participants and guests of the holiday a good mood and well-being for your families."

Archery was among numerous sports participants could try ©NOC RB
Archery was among numerous sports participants could try ©NOC RB

Among the famous Belarusian athletes in attendance was four-time Olympic gold medal-winning biathlete Darya Domracheva.

"International Olympic Day unites the whole world," she said.

"The end of August is suitable for a joint sports festival: families with children have already returned from their holidays and are preparing for the new school year. 

"The guys are ready to try out new sports, choose the most suitable for themselves. 

"It would be great if in the future we came and supported them at major international competitions."

Olympic Day was adopted on the occasion of the 42nd International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in St Moritz in January 1948.

The NOCs were put in charge of organising this event and were requested to choose a date between June 17 and 24, thereby celebrating the foundation of the IOC at the Sorbonne in Paris on June 23, 1894, when Pierre de Coubertin obtained the revival of the Olympic Games.

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

The IOC invites NOCs to independently choose the date of a sporting event in their country, without strictly adhering to the historical date.