Bach calls for power of sport against pandemic on Olympic Day

BEIJING - International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach on Tuesday called on people around the world to use the power of sport to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The president made the remarks through a video message to National Olympic Committees (NOCs) on the 73rd Olympic Day.

"Celebrating Olympic Day may feel very different from all previous years, but at the same time, on this Olympic Day, our message of the power of sport to bring hope and optimism to everyone resonates even stronger," said Bach.

"Let us join together to use this power of sport to prepare the postponed Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 as a moment of solidarity and resilience of humankind," he added.

With the pandemic forcing a global lockdown, the IOC initiated a #StayStrong, #StayActive, #StayHealthy campaign to encourage people to share their exercising video on social media. So far, nearly 5,000 Olympians have engaged 243 million people online across more than 50 countries and regions.

"We are all in the same situation right now," Bach continued. "With the global coronavirus crisis, all of us are living with much uncertainty about the future. In these difficult times, we need the values of sport, our shared Olympic values of excellence, friendship, respect and solidarity, more than ever.

"The Olympic flame can be the light at the end of the dark tunnel that we all find ourselves in now. On Olympic Day, we are sending this Olympic message to everybody. Please stay strong, stay active, stay healthy. In this Olympic spirit, I wish you all a wonderful Olympic Day 2020," Bach concluded.