Medellin citizens have put their full support behind the city’s bid for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games at celebrations that took place in the citySunday to commemorate Olympic Day.
More than 50,000 residents gathered in Medellin’s city centre to participate in the official Olympic Day 5K run – the largest ever held in Colombia.
The day’s events were led by Medellin’s Mayor Anibal Gaviria Correa who said, “clearly our most significant support comes from the people. This incredible participation on Olympic Day shows that the Olympic spirit is alive in Medellin. Today’s event shows that we have the capacity and are ready to organize such a big event and the wonderful people of Medellin are committed to this opportunity to bring the Youth Olympic Games to our city”.
The size of the event created a river of people in the streets of downtown Medellin which were closed to traffic. Citizens, young and old, were dressed in vibrant colours creating a bouncing display of the Olympic rings throughout the city.
Baltazar Medina, President of the Colombian Olympic Committee, who participated in the run said, “this is what makes Medellin so impressive. This amazing support of the Olympic Day Run shows the passion for sport in our country and demonstrates how unique an experience can be created with the hosting of big events. The citizens are the ones who want to show the international community that we are ready to bring the Youth Olympic Games to Colombia. Thanks to all of the participants today for their desire to obtain this Olympic dream”.
The host city for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games will be decided during the International Olympic Committee (IOC) session July 4, 2013 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
