The European Olympic Committees (EOC) are pleased to back the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Let’s Move initiative as we mark the 75th Olympic Day.

Held on 23 June every year, the IOC has partnered with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and famous Olympians with the aim of inspiring the world to move more every day.

Research by the WHO shows that one in four adults and more than 80% of young people across the world do not meet the recommended minimum activity levels needed for optimum health.

Now some of the world’s most famous Olympians, including Pau Gasol, Allyson Felix, PV Sindhu and Yusra Mardini are inviting everyone to schedule 30 minutes of time a day to move and exercise.

More than 100 mass participation events and digital activations have been organised across the world, including in Europe where the Croatian and Norwegian National Olympic Committees have organised Olympic Day runs and Italy, where Olympians are holding online workouts throughout June.

Mr Gerd Kanter, Chair of the EOC Athletes’ Commission, praised the Let’s Move initiative and reiterated the EOC’s desire to increase the amount of exercise people are doing across Europe.

Kanter said: “The fast-paced nature of modern life means that finding time to exercise is not always easy. We also know how important it is to keep moving and I am delighted that the EOC is backing the IOC’s Let’s Move initiative this Olympic Day.

“The EOC will continue to drive forward the importance of this message both today and beyond as we look to continue to encourage everyone to be part of an active society.”

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “On Olympic Day, we celebrate the Olympic Movement’s mission to make the world a better place through sport.

“When we do sport, it keeps our mind and body strong and healthy. When we do sport, it inspires us to always give it our best and it makes us dream, it spreads joy and it brings us together.

“This year, together with the WHO, we are highlighting the positive impacts sport has on both physical and mental health. We want to inspire the world to move more every day. Sport and physical activity are the low-cost, high-impact tool for healthy bodies and healthy minds and resilient communities.”

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said: “The Olympic Movement has a unique ability to harness the power of increased physical activity through sport for improving public health.

“Olympians are more than athletes: they are role models for people to enjoy sport and the benefits of physical activity. The Let’s Move initiative, supported by the WHO, combines the power of the Olympics and WHO’s advice on physical activity to help inspire and motivate people to move more for better health.”