The idea of the Olympic Truce ("Ekechereia") dates back to an ancient Hellenic tradition. In keeping with this tradition all hostilities would cease during the Olympic Games. The Olympic Truce was fully respected for twelve centuries of Olympic Games in antiquity.
In 1992, the International Olympic Committee urged the international community to observe this tradition anew, calling for all hostilities to cease during the Olympic Games, and beyond. Since then, numerous initiatives to promote understanding and solidarity through sport in communities around the world have been developed with the cooperation of National Olympic Committees. In July 2000, the International Olympic Committee and the Government of Greece established the International Olympic Truce Center. This Center seeks to further promote the observance of the Olympic Truce.
The United Nations General Assembly, with the strong support of all of our countries, has five times called for member states to observe the Olympic Truce, individually and collectively, most recently in its Millennium Declaration in September 2000, with the signatures of over 160 Heads of State and Government.
Today, the Olympic Truce has become an expression of our desire to build a world based on the rules of fair competition, humanity, reconciliation, and tolerance. Moreover, the Olympic Truce epitomizes a bridge from the old and wise tradition to the most compelling purpose of today's world, the maintenance of international peace and the promotion of multicultural dialogue, cooperation, and understanding.
The period of the Olympic Games, and beyond, should provide an opportunity for such a dialogue and the search for durable solutions for the restoration of peace in all areas of conflict, where the first victims are the children, the youth, women, and the aged.
Humanity's quest is for a world free of hatred, terrorism, and war, where ideals of peace, goodwill and mutual respect form the basis of relations among peoples and countries. The goal may still remain elusive, but if the Olympic Truce can help us to bring about even a brief respite from conflict and strife, it will send a powerful message of hope to the international community. |
