Discover the Olympic Capital with the IOC President and other Olympians
This year, the “Lausanne Capitale Olympique” run, organised by the City of Lausanne, is being held digitally. IOC President Thomas Bach and various athletes and personalities are guiding the participants and adding their comments along the 7km route by the shores of Lake Geneva.
The traditional “Lausanne Capitale Olympique” run is organised every year on 23 June to mark Olympic Day, celebrating the creation of the IOC by Pierre de Coubertin. This year, however, due to the pandemic, the City of Lausanne has devised an online and connected version for the 2021 edition. To take part, download the free Runnin' City app, sign up and off you go.
“In this extraordinary Olympic Year, celebrating Olympic Day is even more special than usual. This virtual edition of the Lausanne Capitale Olympique run is the occasion to move and share the pleasure of practising sport while discovering iconic Olympic sites in the city", said the IOC President.
Starting at the Olympic Arch, close to Olympic House, the IOC headquarters in Vidy, and finishing at The Olympic Museum in Ouchy, the participants will be guided by the IOC President; Marie Sallois, the IOC director who supervised the construction of Olympic House inaugurated in 2019; and Angelita Teo, Director of the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage. Walkers and runners will learn more about Pierre de Coubertin, former IOC Presidents Juan Antonio Samaranch and Jacques Rogge, and the two IOC sites in Lausanne, Olympic House and The Olympic Museum.
For his part, Lausanne Mayor Grégoire Junod talks about his city, the Olympic Capital since 1994: “This run perfectly symbolises the close relationship between the City and the Olympic Movement around a popular event open to all, with no spirit of competition.”
Participants will also hear about the experiences of numerous Olympians, such as Virginie Faivre, a former professional freestyle skier and President of the Youth Olympic Games Lausanne 2020; Timea Bacsinszky, a tennis player and women's doubles silver medallist at Rio 2016; Juan Carlos Holgado, Olympic champion in archery in Barcelona in 1992; and Paralympic skier Hugo Thomas.
This connected run is part of the audio-guided tours offered by the City of Lausanne Sports Department entitled “Les Escapades lausannoises”, and is accessible at any time until end of August 2021.