Red Sox and Boston 2024 to mark Olympic Day by celebrating Olympians, Paralympians, and 2024 hopefuls

June 23, 2015

The Boston Red Sox and the Boston 2024 Partnership will mark Olympic Day - today, June 23 - by celebrating Olympians, Paralympians, and 2024 hopefuls during tonight's game against the Baltimore Orioles.

Since 1948, Olympic Day has commemorated the founding of the modern Olympic movement on June 23, 1894. Through its three pillars - move, learn, and discover - Olympic Day is intended to encourage people to get active, learn about the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect, and discover new sports and activities. Millions of people in more than 160 countries celebrate Olympic Day.

"We are proud to welcome so many members of Team USA to Fenway Park in honor of International Olympic Day," said Red Sox President/CEO Larry Lucchino, who serves as Senior Advisor to Boston 2024. "These Olympians and Paralympians have represented our country extraordinarily well on the world stage, and their perseverance and excellence inspire all of us. We join them in celebrating this Olympic Day and everything it represents."

"As we work to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Boston in 2024, today serves as a good reminder of what the Olympic movement is all about," said Rich Davey, CEO of Boston 2024. "The Games are the world's greatest sporting event, but even more importantly, they are a celebration of excellence, friendship, and respect."

Boston holds a special place in the history of the modern Olympic movement. The first modern Olympic gold medalist was James Connolly from South Boston, who won the gold medal in the triple jump at the first modern Olympic Games, held in Athens in 1896. Half of the U.S. competitors participating in those 1896 Games were from Boston, most of them members of the Boston Athletic Association. Those BAA members would go on to establish the Boston Marathon.

More than 175 Olympians, Paralympians, and children who hope to compete in the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will participate in a pre-game ceremony. They include:

Alyson Dudek, Olympian, Short Track Speedskating (2010, 2014)
Seth Bauer, Olympian, Rowing (1998)
Mary Ellen Clark, Olympian, 10 Meter Diving (1992, 1996)
Eliot Hovey, Olympian, Rowing (2008, 2012)
Steve Langton, Olympian, Bobsled (2010, 2014)
Sharon Jewell, Olympian, Taekwondo (1988)
Joseph LeMar, Paralympian, Athletics (1992, 2000)
Tanya Lindenmuth, Olympian, Track Cycling (2000)
Eric Maleson, Olympian, Bobsled (2002)
AJ Mleckzo Griswold, Olympian, Women's Ice Hockey (1998, 2002)
Suna Murray, Olympian, Figure Skating (1972)
Mike Prout, Paralympian, Swimming (2004, 2008, 2012)
Molly Schaus, Olympian, Women's Ice Hockey (2010, 2014)
Rodney Smith, Olympian, Wrestling (1992)
Dan Walsh, Olympian, Rowing (2004, 2008)
Joe Walsh, Paralympian, Nordic Skiing (1988, 1992)
Rob Walsh, Paralympian, Cross Country Skiing & Biathlon (1988, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2002)