Olympic Day

The United States Olympic Committee and Chicago 2016 Invite communities across the United States to... 

Join In Olympic Day Celebrations! 

June 23, 2009

CLICK HERE to share and review photos of Olympic Day Celebrations from more than 150 cities across the United States

See a Map of Cities Currently Signed Up to
Participate in Olympic Day

Olympic Day, held annually on June 23 is celebrated by thousands of people, in more than 160 countries. Commemorating the birth of the modern Olympic Games, Olympic Day is not only a celebration, but an international effort to promote fitness and well-being in addition to Olympic ideals of fairplay, perseverance, respect, and sportsmanship.  On June 23, communities across the United States will celebrate Olympic Day through educational programming and other activities.  Some communities may prefer to hold their festivities the preceding weekend, June 20-21, 2009.  Additionally, some communities may want to include Olympic Day as part of an already scheduled event.

As part of Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Chicago 2016 has successfully introduced thousands of children in the Chicago area to the Olympic ideals.  One of the best ways to instill these virtues in our leaders of tomorrow is through events organized and supported by local communities.  The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and Chicago 2016 have designed a tool kit and a turn-key program that will assist communities across the nation in celebrating Olympic Day.  The USOC and Chicago 2016 will work with the over 10,000 Olympians and Paralympians currently living in the US, making best efforts to have an athlete present at each Olympic Day celebration to share their experiences and the role Olympic ideals have played in their lives.

The USOC and Chicago would like to invite communities across the United States to join us in this initiative.  Please support the Olympic Day mission to promote Olympic values and physical fitness among the youth in your community by working with your sports commission, parks department or a community based organization in partnership with the USOC and Chicago 2016. By celebrating Olympic Day, we not only can improve the communities we live in today, we can inspire the champions of tomorrow.

Together we can bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games back to the United States!

Hosting an Olympic Day Celebration

Olympic Day is a celebration for youth around the world to observe the Olympic values of Fairplay, Perseverance, Respect and Sportsmanship.

Olympic Day Celebration Host Requirements, following the Olympic Day Event:

• Provide photos and videos of your event to the USOC
• Send an original copy of your Mayoral Proclamation and any news stories to your USOC/Chicago 2016 Account Manager
• Submit event recap to USOC

Recap information, photos and video will be sent as an Olympic Day Greeting to the International Olympic Family to show our nation's support for bringing the Olympic and Paralympic Games back to the United States.

Olympic Day Tool Kit (DOWNLOADABLE)

• Olympic Day Brochure
• Recommended Agenda for Olympic Day Event
• Three-Week Out General News Release Template
• Final In-Market News Release Template for just prior to the event
• Mayoral Proclamation
• Certificate of Participation
• Olympic Day Wrap-Up Form
• Team USA Logo for collateral

Olympic Education Materials (Click on the following links to learn about each topic):

• Fairplay
• Perseverance
• Respect
• Sportsmanship

2009 Olympic Day Guidelines and Procedures

• Olympic Day, a worldwide celebration of the Olympic Movement, is an International Olympic Committee ("IOC") property. The IOC has recognized the United States Olympic Committee (the "USOC") as the National Olympic Committee for the United States.
• Conducting an Olympic Day program or activity is a great way for local communities to showcase support for the Olympic Movement and America's bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
• Any proposed Olympic Day program or activity in the United States is subject to the approval of the USOC, as further described in these Guidelines and Procedures.
• The first step will be to determine your desired level of participation in Olympic Day:

• You may use USOC-supplied Olympic Day materials to hold an educational Olympic Day program at a school assembly or other community gathering, as described on the USOC's website.
• You may feature an Olympian/Paralympian or Olympic/Paralympic hopeful at this educational program to speak about Olympic ideals and values.
• With prior approval from the USOC, you may coordinate with a local community-based organization that has been approved by the USOC to conduct an Olympic Day event, such as a 5k walk/run, host your own Olympic Day 5k walk/run, or conduct your own unique Olympic Day activities.

• You will also need to determine the proposed date and time of your Olympic Day celebration, which shall be no earlier than June 20, 2009 and no later than June 23, 2009.
• You will need to register your proposed Olympic Day plans using the USOC's website.
• The USOC will approve, as a matter of course, educational Olympic Day programs. Upon the USOC's approval of your proposed Olympic Day activities, we will send you a mailing with USOC-created collateral you may use for Olympic Day.
• The USOC will contact you to further discuss any proposed Olympic Day plans that involve a run or other event.
• You will be responsible for arranging for media coverage of your Olympic Day event.
• Please note that you may not publicly promote your proposed Olympic Day plans until the USOC has approved those plans.
• Please note that McDonald's is the worldwide sponsor of Olympic Day. While some Olympic Day materials provided by the USOC may bear McDonald's trademarks and logos, you may not contact McDonald's to underwrite or support your program/activity. Instead, the USOC will inform McDonald's as to the cities participating in Olympic Day, and will direct McDonald's to those cities' promotions in which McDonald's expresses interest.
• You may not sell sponsorships or other affiliations to Olympic Day, or otherwise create any commercial affiliation between Olympic Day and any third party.
• You may not use Olympic Day as a fundraiser of any kind.
• You may not create any Olympic Day merchandise, whether for sale or for give-away.
• You may use the USOC's USA/5-Ring Emblem and the word mark "Olympic Day," in the exact form provided by the USOC, solely on collateral materials promoting a USOC-approved Olympic Day event or program. You may not use these Olympic marks for any other purposes, including but not limited to, on clothing or other merchandise, or in connection with the advertising or promotion of any product, service or company. You may not use third party names or trademarks on any materials bearing these Olympic marks.
• You may not use any Olympic marks, images or terminology (including but not limited to the Chicago 2016 star emblem/logo) not specifically authorized by the USOC herein.
• The entity that registers the Olympic Day program/event shall be solely liable for all costs and expenses associated with the planning and operation of the program/event, as well as all risks and liabilities associated therewith. The USOC and Chicago 2016 disclaim any and all liabilities associated with your Olympic Day program/event, and will not be responsible for any claims incidental to or arising out of your program/event.
• By no later than June 26, you must complete the attached wrap-up report regarding your Olympic Day program/event, and submit it with a group photo from Olympic Day showing an Olympic Day banner, via email to OlympicDay@usoc.org. You hereby grant the USOC and Chicago 2016 the right to use the group photo for all noncommercial purposes benefitting the Olympic Movement in the United States, and you are solely responsible for obtaining all necessary or appropriate consents from persons appearing therein.