The Miami-Dade Sports Commission (MDSC) kicked off Olympic Day with a special Olympic Day event presentation at the US Sailing Center (USSC) in Coconut Grove. Mike Sophia, MDSC Executive Director, and Pat Downey, USSC Executive Director, were joined by Olympians Lawrence “Monk” Terry and Magnus Liljedahl, to share and celebrate Olympic values and ideals with some of Miami’s aspiring young athletes.
Olympic Day is a worldwide commemoration of Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s June 23, 1984, convening of the first International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting at the Sorbonne in Paris, and the founding of the Modern Olympic Games. National Olympic Committees (NOCs) throughout the world will also participate in the international celebration, with each Olympic Committee sending Olympic Day greetings to participating nations.
The USSC has the honor of being one of only 11 official United States Olympic/Paralympic training sites and the MDSC is recognized as one of 10 community partners in the United States.
The Ceremony featured the presenting of a proclamation on behalf of Chairman of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners Joe Martinez and Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz, Chairman of the Miami-Dade Sports Commission, and presentations from Olympians for the U.S. Sailing Center summer campers in attendance.
“We recognize that the Olympic movement doesn’t just come along every four years,” said Sophia. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to share the Olympic ideals of sportsmanship, commitment and healthy lifestyles, and the benefit of sport to young people in our community.”
The United States Olympic Day is the United States Olympic Committee’s (USOC’s) initiative to educate people about the Olympic Movement and inspire all Americans.
Olympic Day events were scheduled in all 50 states and it is expected that 350+ Olympic Day events will take place across the United States, most happening from June 17 to 26.
The Miami-Dade Sports Commission was created by the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners in 2003, and opened for business in April of 2004. The Sports Commission promotes sports in Miami-Dade County, and works to secure sports events that will generate economic impact for the community. The Miami-Dade Sports Commission is a proud partner of the United States Olympic Committee’s Community Partner program.
For more information on Olympic Day and the Miami-Dade Sports Commission, please visit www.MiamiSports.org.