Especially with Olympic Day just behind us, it is our pleasure to look back at the celebrations and activities by our members to mark the occasion. In this first part, activities and milestones from Azerbaijan, Liechtenstein, and the Netherlands are in the spotlight. What unites them all is their commitment to commemorating Olympic heritage.
Azerbaijan
As every year, Olympic Day was celebrated in Azerbaijan. This year it was a little unusual, as it had a commemorative, heritage-focused touch. The celebrations were dedicated to athletes from Azerbaijan who, in the period from 1952 to 1992 (before Azerbaijan became an independent country), became Olympic champions or medallists as part of the USSR. Their performances were shown on a large monitor, while gratitude videos and tributes from their comrades and sports veterans were played.
The spectacle and impact of the event were excellent, and many kind words were said to the Azerbaijan Olympic Committee as the organiser of the event. The message was clear: we must not forget our athletes who have made a huge contribution to the development of sport in Azerbaijan. Closing out the event, there was a mass race and a tug-of-war competition. The winners were awarded by both veterans and VIP guests, and all participants received IOC certificates.
Liechtenstein
In Liechtenstein, the National Olympic Committee dedicated a YouTube video to the Olympic Day celebrations. Beginning with the Ancient Olympic Games and Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s vision for the modern Olympic Games, the video highlights the Liechtenstein NOC’s ambition to educate young children about the Olympic ideals and values.
Together with the local school authority, the NOC organized 30 sports stations where children could try a variety of sports and learn about new disciplines. In the afternoon, the activities culminated in exchanges with Liechtenstein Olympians and a closing ceremony.
The Netherlands
Finally, in the Netherlands, Olympic Day marked the perfect opportunity to share an exciting update regarding the research project #forgotteninolympia by Lennart and Juriën van den Broek. Two years ago, the brothers launched the website olympia.co.nl as part of this project. This platform is dedicated to their ongoing historical research into the 1732 book Olympia by Theodorus Antonides—the oldest printed book in the world dedicated exclusively to the Olympic Games.
Through this website, they aim to give Theodorus Antonides and his work a well-deserved place within Olympic history. For centuries, this book was forgotten. Professor Renson was the first to recognize its immense significance, famously calling it “a most valuable ‘missing link’ of the period between the Ancient and Modern Games.” Inspired by his vision, the brothers have built upon his research to demonstrate the vital role Olympia plays in Olympic history.
The van den Broek brothers are proud to share that on 20 June 2026, the website was officially included in the digital heritage collection of the Royal Library (the National Library of the Netherlands), ensuring the long-term preservation of their research. To give an idea of the content of the project, here are a few core articles from the website:
· The Forgotten Torchbearer – The Story
· The Four Driving Forces Behind the Oldest Printed Olympic Book in the World
A full feature of the project will also be published on our website soon.
