One of the arrangements held by the National Olympic Committee in ten-year period was the International Olympic Run Day. It is known that in 1947 there was the 41st session of IOC in Stockholm. One of the members of the session Dr.Grass from Czechoslovakia proposed to celebrate the Olympic Day every year all over the world. He explained that the celebration of this day would play great role in popularization of the ideals of the Olympic Movement on our planet. His proposal was admitted, and in January 1948, in Saint-Morris, at the 42nd session of the International Olympic Committee the decree on celebration of the Olympic Day was issued. The session regarded it reasonable to celebrate this day within June 17-24. The reason of choosing this date was that the International Olympic Committee was established just on June 23.

The first Olympic Day was celebrated on June 23, 1948 in nine countries of the world: Portugal, Greece, Austria, Canada, Switzerland, Great Britain, Uruguay, Venezuela and Belgium. That day the President of the International Olympic Committee, Zigfrid Edstrom, appealed to the youth of the world. Since that time it has become a tradition of the president of the IOC to address to the participants on the eve of the holiday.

In order to celebrate the holiday more solemnly and with attraction of all the National Olympic Committees the IOC carne to the decision to organize the Olympic Run Day, The first Olympic Run Day was held in 1987. Nowadays the Olympic Run Day as a rule starts on June 23 and lasts for one week. Each National Olympic Committee chooses its own day of celebration within the very week.

On the first Olympic Run Day 10 km distance relay was organized among women and men. Later, the program of events for these run days had been expanded. Last years it has already become a tradition to carry out different sporting competitions and various cultural arrangements among the masses on Olympic Run Day. It should be noted there are not any age and gender restrictions for participation. All these items make the Olympic Run Day more and more popular.

In 1987, there were only 45 countries participated in the first Olympic Run Day, then in 1997, in the XI Olympic Run Day, the number of countries increased to 173.

The Olympic Run Day is celebrated under the protection of mass sport commission of the International Olympic Committee.

Being very active in organization and providing the Olympic Games from 1928, the famous Coca-Cola Company has become an official sponsor of the Olympic Run Day since 1989. In various countries local representatives of Coca-Cola realize the projects of this campaign.

For the first time the International Olympic Run Day in Azerbaijan was held in 1996. About 500 people took part in that event. In 1997, for the second time, the number of participants didn't differ very much, and it was again about 500.

On June 28, 1998, the XII Olympic Day was carried out at the Seaside Park, in Baku. On that day there were held different events as semi marathon in 21 km distance, and 10 km run among women and men, 4 km and 2 krn distance round among boys and girls; in addition, there was carried out a great cultural program for participants.

The places of start and finish on Azadlig Square, at the Seaside Park, and on roads were decorated with flags, slogans, logos, Olympic flags and Coca-Cola advertisements. All the participants were wearing T-shirts with logos of Coca-Cola and Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee.

The Secretary General of UN, Kofi Annan's letter addressed to all the participants of the Olympic Day and the appeal of the President of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Antonio Samaranch, were announced in Azerbaijan, Russian and English languages in honor of the Olympic Day.

The first Vice-President of the National Olympic Committee, the Minister of Youth and Sport, Abulfas Garayev, the Vice-president of the National Olympic Committee, Chingiz Husseinzadeh, and the representative of Coca-Cola Company in Azerbaijan, Nofal Rzayev, participated at the ceremony of presentation of the Olympic Day.

The official part of the ceremony ended with the sport parade of the participants. Later, the concerts of singing and dancing ensembles, performances of sportsmen and other cultural events devoted to the Olympic Run day were carried out.

The XII Olympic Run Day was organized on a high level. About 1500 runners- amateurs from Sumgayit and Baku together with foreigners took part in this event.

The participants who won the first, the second, and the third places wore awarded by the special prizes and diplomas of the International Olympic Committee. All the participants got the certificates of the International Olympic Committee. The eldest competitor of the Run Day was 70 and the youngest was 6 years old.

In 1999, the XIII Olympic Run Day was organized on the high level in Azerbaijan. Unlike the last competitions that year, the athletes tested their strength in 10 km distance on the route stretching for about 2800 m long across Azadlig Square, the Favvaralar (Fountain) Square, the Jujalarim Cafe, and the Seaside Park.

That day the Seaside Park was decorated with the Olympic flags, slogans and advertisements of Coca-Cola Company. All the participants were wearing T-shirts with logos of the National Olympic Committee and Coca-Cola Company.

The celebration ceremony was opened at 10 o'clock by the first Vice-President of the National Olympic Committee, Minister of Youth and Sport, Abulfas Garayev.

Then the appeal of the President of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Antonio Samaranch, and the appeal of the President of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan, llham Aliyev, were announced. So the opening ceremony of the XIII International Olympic Day was over, and the grand celebration started. The performances of young gymnasts, children amateur performances and other interesting entertaining programs were greeted warmly.

Then the start for 2,8 km and 10 km distance run was given. About 2500 participants of the competition got certificates of the International Olympic Committee; the winners were awarded with valuable presents from Coca-Cola Company.

As it used to be every year, special prizes had been established for the youngest and the oldest participants.

The XIV International Run Day was held in Azerbaijan, Baku, and Ganja cities on June 24, 2000. So, the geographical sphere of this event in Azerbaijan had been expanding. The Olympic Run Day started again at the Seaside Park in Baku on June 24. As usually, it was held on the high level. The competitors tested their physical abilities in 2,4 km and 10 km distances.

Again the Seaside Park was decorated with the flags and slogans, advertisements of Coca-Cola Company. All the participants were given out T-shirts with the logos of the National Olympic Committee and Coca-Cola Company. The appeal of the President of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Antonio Samaranch, and the appeal of the President of the National Olympic Committee, llham Afiyev, was read to the participants of the XIV International Run Day.

After the official part of the opening ceremony the start for running was given- About 2270 athletes and jogging lovers took part on the Run Day in Baku. All of them were given certificates, and the winners were awarded with the valuable gifts.

In Ganja, the International Run Day was held on June 27. The representatives of the National Olympic Committee, the leaders of sport societies of Ganja, representatives of I Executive authority of the city, and the representatives of Coca-Cola Company attended the opening ceremony. On the Run Day in Ganja, 515 athletes took part in the competition.

In 2001, the Olympic Run Day was held in Azerbaijan just on the day of the foundation of the International Olympic Committee, on June 23. That Run Day started in the loveliest place of Baku, at the Seaside Park. The festival atmosphere of celebration was obviously felt everywhere. Azadlig Square, the Seaside Park, start and finish places, run distances were decorated with the flags, slogans, Olympic flags, logos and advertisements of Coca-Cola Company and the National Olympic Committee. The number of participants and spectators on the XV Olympic Run Day was much more in comparison with the last years. AH participants were presented T-shirts with emblems of Coca-Cola Company and the Azerbaijan Olympic Committee.

The competition was carried out among men and women in 10 km distance, and among girls and boys in 4 km and 2 km distance. The expanded cultural program was organized too.

The letter of the President of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Antonio Samaranch, and the letter of the President of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan, llham Aliyev, was read to the participants of the Run Day.

The Vice-President of the National Olympic Committee, Chingiz Husseinzadeh opened the ceremony. He greeted the participants, spoke about the history of the International Run Day, and stated the aims and the role of the event in popularization of the Olympic ideals. At the end of his speech he congratulated the participants of the XV Olympic Run Day and wished them success. He summoned all people to take part more actively in the Olympic Movement in our country.

The representative of Coca-Cola Company in Azerbaijan began his speech with congratulations to the participants. He spoke about the history of cooperation between Coca-Cola Company and the International Olympic Committee, about the sponsoring of the Olympic Run Day and wished success to the participants.

The official part of the opening ceremony ended with the parade. After that there was an interesting cultural program including concerts, dances, children amateur performances, athletes1 performances and other kinds of entertainment.

The XV International Olympic Run Day was organized on the high level where 2500 run amateurs from Sumgayit and Baku, and even foreigners took part in the competitions.

The athletes who occupied the first, the second, and the third places were awarded with special prizes and diplomas of the International Olympic Committee. All the participants got the certificates of the International Olympic Committee.

The Olympic Run Day begins on the 23rd of June and lasts the whole week. The National Olympic Committee has already been organizing this event for two years not only in Baku, but also in Ganja, one of the big, ancient and beautiful cities of the republic. Though, Ganja joined the cities providing the Run Day later, it was ready for such an event and managed to hold it on the high level. There were a lot of participants, and the streets and the squares of the city were decorated. It looked like the whole city joined the eel-ebration. 600 athletes and run amateurs participated in the competitions held in Ganja. The win-ners were awarded with the presents from the NOC and Coca-Cola Company.

The National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan is making arrangements for the XVII Run Day in 2002. This time the geographical area of the event will be considerably expanded, and more kinds of sport will be played. International Olympic Run Day was held in Azerbaijan on June 23, 2002 in Baku and on June 29 in Ganja. Athletes tried heir strength in 2km, 4km and 10km run events arranged in National Park of Baku.

Athletes competing in 10km run distance first joined the competitions. Sanan Mammadov having reached the finish the first among men became the winner. Nariman Mammadov reached the finish the second, Rahim Mammadov the third. In this run distance among women Naila Novruzova took the first, Shems Suleyrnanova and Narmina Mammadova corresponding the second and the third places.

Solemn opening ceremony of sporting holiday was held after events on 10km run distance. Chingiz Husseinzadeh, Vice-President of the National Olympic Committee, Azer Hus-seinov representative of Coca-Cola Company in Baku and other representatives of sport society attended the opening ceremony. International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge and the National Olympic Committee President llham Aliyev's addresses to the participants were read.

After the official opening ceremony Urfat Gasimov, head referee invited the participants of 4km run distance to the start line. Hundred of athletes, sport amateurs and foreign guests joined this competition. Beyazali Purmani, citizen of Iran but Azerbaijani by origin, champion of Iran on this run distance reached the finish first. Sergey Anokhin took the second, Fikret Mammadov the third place.

In this run distance among women Yuliya Kolesnikova rested all her opponents behind. Gulnara Jabrayilova was the second, Rimma llyasova the third.

In 2km run distance event participated more athletes and sport amateurs. Among boys Namig Mammadov became the first, Rufat Ibrahimov the second, Allahverdi Abdullayev the third. In the same run distance among girls Kamila Mehdiyeva reached the finish first, Elnara Ibrahimova the second. Ludmila Kulakova guest from Tumen, Russia reached the finish third.

Winners of Run Day received precious presents and all participants received certificate on participation in this event signed by the 1OC President Jacques Rogge. The aged and the youngest participants of the competitions were not forgot. In 2002 the youngest Shikhnabi Shi-khnabiyev and Bahar Mirishli, aged participants Boyukagha Gasimov of 72 and Taisa Nalivayko of 62 received National Olympic Committee's special presents.

The International Run Day was held in Ganja city of Azerbaijan on June 29. More than 500 athletes and sport amateurs participated in Run Day held in Ganja. In general, nearly 3000 athletes participated in the Run Day held in Azerbaijan in 2002.