Imphal: Manipur deputy chief minister Y. Joykumar Singh on Saturday said the motto of Olympic Games is very encouraging as it supports mass participation, irrespective of caste, creed or gender.

Attending the Olympic Day Run here, organised by the Manipur Olympic Association at Olympic Bhavan at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex here, Joykumar Singh said the strategy of the Olympic Games is drawing mass participation. He said victory and defeat are part and parcel of a game and no one should feel disheartened.

"Sports is a great way to shape up body and mind. It is the key to a healthy life and a progressive society," the deputy chief minister added.

Sportspersons from various disciplines participated in the run that crisscrossed Dingku Road and North AOC, finally converging at Olympic Bhavan.

Education minister Th. Radheshyam Singh, youth affairs and sports minister Letpao Haokip and Manipur Olympic Association president I. Hemochandra Singh also attended the event.

The Jiribam Olympic Association also took part in the run. Its president M. Brajakanta and Jiribam superintendent of police M. Mubi Singh attended the event.

The Olympic Day Run, launched in 1987, encourages national Olympic committees to celebrate Olympic Day and promote the practice of mass participation. Olympic Day was introduced in 1948 to commemorate the birth of modern Olympic Games on June 23, 1894, at Sorbonne in Paris.