The Israeli National Olympic Committee marked Olympic Day on 23 June 2023 by holding an Olympic Festival at the Meir Medical Centre.
In the spirit of the “Let’s Move” initiative established by the International Olympic Committee to this year’s Olympic Day, the Israeli NOC chose to dedicate this special day to children and youth suffering from overweight and obesity at the Centre, where Olympic athletes volunteer throughout the year.
NOC President Yael Arad, Athletes’ Commission Chair Yakov Toumarkin were in attendance alongside Olympic and Paralympic athletes, including Olympic medallists Linoy Ashram and Peter Paltchik.
The festival started with an opening ceremony and a torch relay, then the dozens of young children and teenagers involved were able to try out several Olympic and Paralympic sports, including judo, gymnastics, archery, taekwondo, sport climbing, basketball, bocce and goal ball.
Gili Lustig, CEO of NOC Israel, and Yarden Har Lev, Head of Education & Olympic Solidarity at the NOC, said: “Celebrating Olympic Day in a joint activity with the Meir Medical Centre, when at the heart of the action are Olympic athletes together with children and teenagers is Olympism at its best.
“Led by the athletes, the most significant ambassadors of the NOC of Israel in spreading Olympic values 365 days a year, dozens of children participated in a multi-disciplinary sports festival that inspired everyone who took part to always do their best, enjoy the effort and dream big.
“Thanks to Meir Medical Centre and the athletes for valuable and meaningful cooperation throughout the year and especially on this important day”.
Professor Dan Nemet is the Director of the Sports Centre for Children and Youth at Meir and thanked the athletes involved for helping to represent the Olympic Values of excellence, friendship and respect during their involvement over the past year.
Prof. Nemet said: “This event summarises a year’s activity in which Israeli Olympic athletes accompanied the children of the Sports Centre and instilled in them the Olympic values through joint training.
“Meir Medical Centre has accompanied the athletes of the Olympic squad for over 20 years and now to Paris 2024, but in this special project this time the athletes and the NOC of ֹIsrael were the ones who accompanied our children at the sports centre and for that we thank you. This is an example of an inspiring collaboration in which both parties benefit”.
