As part of international Olympic Day celebration around the world, Somali Olympic Committee have organised a series of activities that lasted three full days to promote sports participation in the country regardless of age, gender, athletic abilities and religion.

Basketball and taekwondo competitions, traditional dancing, and a 3km run were all ingredients of the commemoration that saw over 500 young and old participants from all parts of the capital city to have fun and most of all to share the Olympic spirit.

"I would like to thank everyone who has come out to mark the day and all the supporters who made this day’s celebration possible. Over 4 million people around the world celebrates the day every year, honouring the day has been a custom for Somali Olympic Committee and I am very glad to see that large number of people have joined in on the fun to promote sportsmanship, respect and friendship” said the assistant secretary general of Somali Olympic committee who is the president of Somali Handball federation Mohamed Hurshe Hassan

Excutive Committee member Hagi Mohamed Olow has summarized the importance of this day and its introduction in 1948 to commemorate the birth of modern Olympic Games in 23 June 1849 to the large participants at the finishing point.

"The president of Somali Olympic Committee have announced few months ago that three days of celebration with seven different events will mark the occasion this year and the past three days you have shown a true Olympic spirit and sportsmanship which we as an association to be proud of” said the veteran Hagi Olow who was addressing the crowd at the end of the Olympic day run.

Every year Somali Olympic Committee organise events and activities to honour this great day of sporting history and according to the secretary general of Somali Olympic Committee Duran Farah this year’s celebration was even sweeter to Mogadishu residents who are recuperating from years of civil war and destruction.

"It has been a flourishing celebration this year for us here in Somalia with the stability of the city improving significantly, enhanced sporting facilities and the confidence of sporting loving people of Mogadishu coming back gradually where previous years may have been difficult for some to participate” said the secretary  

A hotly contested basketball match between Heegan and ILS was the first event to kick off the commemoration followed by various traditional dancing events, taekwondo fights and over 3 km run that draw the attention of former sportsmen and women, deputy mayor of Mogadishu and international referees was to finish off the three day long activities to celebrate the Olympic Day that has been organised by Somali Olympic Committee and held in Mogadishu the capital of Somalia.