Approximately 50 participants attending the Disabled Athlete Sports Association’s Camp WECANDU helped on Wednesday to observe St. Louis' celebration of a worldwide Olympic Day in Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park in Wildwood.  The event also was attended by with the St. Louis Sports Commission staff. Campers were ages 7 to 16 years.

U.S. Paralympians Ed Cockrell, 2008 shot put gold medalist, and Ralph Green, Paralympic Alpine Skiing National Team, were on-hand.

Festivities were held at the Jacob Babler Outdoor Education Center in the park.

Organizers of the day indicate it was held to commemorate the birth of modern Olympic Games. Olympic Day marks Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s convening of the first International Olympic Committee meeting at the Sorbonne in Paris—and founding of the modern Olympic Games—on June 23, 1894. 

National Olympic committees throughout the world participated in the international celebration this week. Brent Shulman, spokesperson for the St. Louis Sports Commission, said the goal of Olympic Day is to promote the Olympic values and participation in sport across the globe, regardless of age, gender or athletic ability.

The St. Louis Sports Commission’s Sports Foundation / Sportsmanship Initiative partnered with the Disabled Athlete Sports Association to host local Olympic Day activities. 

Young people Wednesday participated in archery and martial arts, with the Paralympians in attendance leading the demonstrations.

Campers get opportunities to experience new athletic and sensory activities each day, said Shulman.  The organization’s efforts also connect with the Olympic ideals of fair play, perseverance, respect and sportsmanship, he said.

Celebrating St. Louis’ Olympic legacy is a major focus for the Sports Commission, Shulman said in a news release. As site of the 1904 Summer Games—the first Olympics to take place in North America—St. Louis has a significant place in the Olympic movement. 

Olympic activities are part of St. Louis’ rich sports history and tradition. Over the last two decades, the region has hosted the 1994 U.S. Olympic Festival; the 1998 U.S. Open—Track & Field’s Farewell to JJK; the 1999 and 2001 State Games of America; the 2000 U.S. Gymnastics Championships; the 2003 USA Women’s Marathon Championship; the 2004 U.S. Olympic Diving Trials and U.S. Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials; the 2006 U.S. Figure Skating Championships; and three Olympic torch relays. including the global relay in 2004. 

St. Louis will host the USA Gymnastics Visa Championships at Chaifetz Arena June 7-10, 2012.