IOC launches ‘Let’s Move and Celebrate’ initiative to inspire people to find joy in movement
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has today launched a new initiative in collaboration with the World Health Organisation Organization (WHO) to encourage people to enjoy movement.
Drawing on the upcoming Olympic Games Paris 2024, the campaign, ‘Let’s Move and Celebrate’, invites people to create, or recreate, iconic athlete celebration moves.
From signature poses like Usain Bolt’s winning stance, to dance routines and reenactments of classic sporting moves, fans are invited to show off their originality and share it on social media platforms, tagging @Olympics and #LetsMove.
The emphasis on discovering joy in movement comes as research from the WHO revealed that 81 per cent of adolescents are not active enough for their health, with girls less active than boys.
People are more likely to exercise consistently when activities are fun and accessible. By putting moments of celebration at the centre of the campaign, the Olympic Movement hopes the unique spirit of the Games can inspire the world to connect with exercise.
IOC President Thomas Bach said:
“Athletes from all corners of the world and backgrounds are getting ready to participate in the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The athletes at the Games will inspire and encourage people everywhere to bring more movement to their lives, making it healthier, better and more joyful. We are very thankful that we could partner up with WHO again for this very important campaign.”
“The Olympic Games are a showcase of the world's finest athletes demonstrating what the human body is capable of,” said WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“But you don't have to be an Olympian to be active. WHO is proud to partner again with the IOC through the Let’s Move campaign, to inspire people of all ages to be more physically active and healthy.”
'Let's Move and Celebrate' on Olympic Day 2024
‘Let’s Move and Celebrate’ will also be the theme of this year’s Olympic Day, taking place on 23 June.
As part of the wider celebrations over 110 mass participation events and digital activations will take place across the world, including at the upcoming Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) in Budapest, Hungary, where athletes in the urban sports are completing their final preparations for Paris 2024.
Alistair Brownlee, a double Olympic triathlon gold medallist from Great Britain, said, “Let’s Move is a great initiative, as it demonstrates to everyone the joy and simplicity of movement. Movement and exercise are such an important part of everyone’s health, and it’s brilliant to see how the Olympic Movement can transcend all levels of fitness to encourage everyone to move in their own way.”