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The Olympic Truce

An ancient concept for the new millennium

© IOC

Olympia - Lausanne - Athens

The Olympic Games: An eternal peace accord

Modern Olympism was conceived by the French educator Pierre de Coubertin, on whose initiative the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was constituted on June 23rd, 1894 at the University of Sorbonne in Paris.

The Olympic Movement aspires to contribute to a peaceful future for humankind through the educational value of sport. It brings together the athletes of the world in a great sports festival, the Olympic Games. It promotes peace, friendship, solidarity and fair play. To Celebrate Humanity.

In 1896, Athens organised the first Olympic Games of the modern era. A legacy for peace was born, sowing the seeds of universal brotherhood.

The Olympic Games: An Eternal Peace Accord

In Ancient Greece, Ifitos, King of Elis, addresses the oracle at Delphi, seeking a way to end the wars that at the time devastated the Peloponnese. According to the myth, Apollo replies: "Ifitos and the Elians should restore the sports contests" in Olympia, as a celebration of peace. Ifitos proceeds to establish the Olympic Games and signs, along with Sparta’s Lycourgos and Pisa’s Cleosthenes, the longest-standing peace accord in history, the Olympic Truce.

The sacred Greek tradition of "Ekecheiria" was thus born in the 8th century BC, serving as a cornerstone of the Olympic Games.

Throughout the duration of the Olympic Truce, from the seventh day prior to the opening of the Games to the seventh day following the closing, all conflicts ceased, allowing athletes, artists and spectators to travel to Olympia, participate in the Games and return to their homelands in safety.

For twelve centuries, the Olympic Truce is observed. Noble competition and a harmonious coexistence are celebrated in Olympia.

Modern Olympism was conceived by the French educator Pierre de Coubertin, on whose initiative the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was constituted on June 23rd, 1894 at the University of Sorbonne in Paris.

The Olympic Movement aspires to contribute to a peaceful future for humankind through the educational value of sport. It brings together the athletes of the world in a great sports festival, the Olympic Games. It promotes peace, friendship, solidarity and fair play. To Celebrate Humanity.

In 1896, Athens organised the first Olympic Games of the modern era. A legacy for peace was born, sowing the seeds of universal brotherhood. A legacy growing in a turbulent century, surviving the devastation of two World Wars, uniting all nations through sport. The Olympic Games developed into a landmark of human creativity and excellence. They illuminated examples of extraordinary courage and endurance. They became the stage for the celebration of mutual understanding and noble competition.

In 1992, the International Olympic Committee moved the legacy forward by calling upon all nations to observe the Olympic Truce. The United Nations embrace the initiative, recognising the Olympic Truce as being a unique instrument for the promotion of global peace. In a landmark 1993 resolution, the 48th session of the United Nations General Assembly urged all Member States to cease hostilities during the Olympic Games.

The 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway, revived hope in conflict-torn Sarajevo, host city of the Olympic Winter Games in 1984. Following coordinated diplomatic efforts, the Olympic Truce is observed, giving the opportunity to an International Olympic Committee delegation, headed by its president, to visit this city and extend its solidarity to the population.

During the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano in 1998, tensions in the Persian Gulf region were high. The observance of the Olympic Truce, according to United Nations resolutions, offered an opportunity to United Nations Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan to intervene to seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Iraq.

In 1999, 180 United Nations Member-States, a record number, co-sponsored a resolution
in support of the observance of the Olympic Truce during the Games of the XXVII Olympiad in Sydney, Australia. The United Nations Millennium Summit, held in New York from September 6th-8th, 2000, which gathered more than 150 Heads of State and Government, adopted a Millennium declaration that included a paragraph on the observance of the Olympic Truce. During the opening ceremony of the Games of the XXVII Olympiad in Sydney in 2000, the South and North Korean delegations walked in the stadium together, under the same flag.

These achievements mark the continuous pledge of the peoples and nations of the world
to uphold the eternal principles of Olympism. The challenge is to keep this legacy for
humanity at the dawn of the 21st century.

“May the Olympic Truce, inspired by the ancient Greek tradition of Ekecheiria, serve to promote dialogue, reconciliation and the search for durable solutions to all conflicts
destroying peace around the world.” -- Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch, former President of the International Olympic Committee.

The establishment of the International Olympic Truce Foundation and of the International Olympic Truce Centre in July 2000 turned the commitment of the Olympic Movement to promote its peaceful principles into concrete action.

The dynamic gained further impetus with the commitment of the candidate city of Athens
that the 2004 Olympic Games will empower the meaning of the Olympic Truce and promote
its values around the world on the occasion of the 2004 Olympic Torch Relay.

The pledge took a concrete form in 1998 with the proposal of the Greek government to the members of the International Olympic Committee for the institutional consolidation of the Olympic Truce in the new millennium.

THE FOUNDATION AND THE CENTRE

OLYMPIA - LAUSANNE - ATHENS

In a historic December 1999 decision, the International Olympic Committee announced the establishment of the Foundation and the Centre, in cooperation with Greece.

Building a global partnership for the Olympic Truce. Seeking to celebrate the Olympic Games of the 21st century in an environment of universal peace. Creating the organisational structures for the dissemination of a Culture of Peace through sport and the Olympic Ideals.

The Foundation and the Centre are non-governmental organisations included within the framework of the Olympic Movement. The mission of the International Olympic Truce Foundation is to promote the Olympic Ideals, to serve peace, friendship and international
understanding. In particular, to uphold the observance of Olympic Truce, calling for all
hostilities to cease during the Olympic Games and beyond, and mobilising the youth of
the world in the cause of peace.

The International Olympic Truce Centre is dedicated to creating the necessary support framework for the observance of the Olympic Truce and for the global promotion of a Culture of Peace, in accordance with the principles and policies established by the Foundation.

The symbolic seat of both the Foundation and the Centre is Olympia, the birthplace of Olympism. The legal and statutory seat of the Foundation as well as the Centre’s liaison office is in Lausanne, where the International Olympic Committee is based.

Athens, where the first Olympic Games of the modern era took place in 1896 and host city of the 2004 Olympic Games, houses the Centre’s administrative headquarters.

“It is our desire and intent to support the effort of reviving the ancient tradition of the Olympic Truce; we shall be able to contribute to the advancement of the goals of the Olympic Charter, as well as of those outlined in the United Nations resolutions.”
Mr. Costas Simitis, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic

“Achieving a Truce during the Olympic Games would constitute a small revolution in
international affairs. It would educate future generations on the importance of tolerance and negotiation as a means of conflict resolution. The host city of the Games, or even better the site of ancient Olympia, could become the meeting point for opposing parties during this period. Institutions and civil society groups the world over could participate in this campaign for peace.”
Mr. George Papandreou, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hellenic Republic

ACTIONS FOR THE TRUCE
EMPOWERING PEACE

The fundamental objective of the International Olympic Truce Centre is to lead actions for the Truce, empowering the mission of the Olympic Movement to promote the peaceful coexistence among all peoples.

Observing the Olympic Truce calls for the awakening of consciousness, the motivation of leaders to act, the mobilisation to promote the Olympic Ideal, the education of the youth in conformity with the principles of Olympism. Working towards the observance of the Olympic
Truce means encouraging contact between belligerents; making humanitarian actions easier in conflict-torn regions; helping the youth of the world to participate peacefully in the
Olympic Games. Extending the achievements of the Truce is the promise to create the necessary structures for the continuation of dialogue and for the renewal of hope for reconciliation, both during the period of the Games and beyond.

The work of the Centre is founded on three comprehensive pillars of action, reflecting its objectives. It develops initiatives that lead to the global support and observance of the Olympic Truce and to the steady shaping of a Culture of Peace.

Global Truce Forum

The International Olympic Truce Centre develops communications campaigns, concerning
its mission, its objectives and its achievements in favour of the Olympic Truce and also promotes the effective dissemination of the principles of Olympism. To this end, the Centre, in cooperation with the International Sports Federations, the National Olympic Committees and the Organising Committees of the Olympic Games, takes the message of the Truce to the Olympic Games, carries the spirit of friendship and reconciliation in the Olympic Torch Relay, contributes to the daily universal appreciation of the spirit and the principles of the Olympic Movement.

A Culture of Peace

The Centre builds up educational programmes that seek to activate a Culture of Peace through sport and the Olympic Ideal, motivating the development of grass-roots initiatives
in favour of the Olympic Truce, and serving the fundamental educational mission of Olympism. Through the educational programme, it formulates a “knowledge bank” on the Olympic Truce, by developing education and research programmes in cooperation with academic institutions world-wide; it disseminates the values of Olympism and the Truce in schools and universities; it organises cultural activities in favour of peace; it brings academic contributions together through the organisation of conferences and seminars. The Centre seeks to foster the support of the civil society through the creation of “Truce Action Kits” that educate and involve the general public in the objectives and projects of the Olympic Truce.

Truce Building

A WAY OF LIFE
CELEBRATING HUMANITY

The Truce building activities provide support through sport and the Olympic Ideal, in cooperation with relevant national and international organisations, in areas facing
armed conflict. The Centre provides, together with its partners, humanitarian aid to countries in conflict; it activates the support of national and international organisations for the observance of the Olympic Truce; it organises sporting events, Youth Camps and Round
Tables on sport and a culture of peace.

Initiatives in favour of the Olympic Truce are a partnership. They gain momentum with the active support of the members of the Olympic Family, international and national organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private citizen initiatives that contribute to the cause of peace.

The Olympic Games

The greatest celebration on earth

At the dawn of the third millennium, the Olympic Games unite humanity through the global vision of a peaceful and better world. Promoting friendship, solidarity and fair play. Uniting nations from all over the world through the unique language of sport.

A way of life

The Spirit of Olympism is a way of life, bringing out the best in human beings. An Ideal in motion, serving the aspirations of the community. Empowering our times with the value of eternal, humane ideals.

The Olympic Truce

An ancient tradition for the new millennium

Challenging our times, through a vision set in motion by the citizens of the world. Building a global Culture of Peace through sport and the Olympic Ideal. The International Olympic
Truce Foundation and the International Olympic Truce Centre, new instruments for
peace in our times.

Experience the days of Truce

If we can stop fighting for 16 days, maybe we can do it forever. Create an eternal legacy
in value. Bring humanity together for a common goal. Work for peace and reconciliation. Assist those in need. Join the effort. Celebrate Humanity.

Click here to download a 66-page PDF document titled "United Nations & Olympic Truce". This document is prepared by the United Nations Information Centre in Athens in cooperation with the International Olympic Truce Centre.

Useful links:

• The Olympic Truce (official Web site)

• Supporting Olympic Truce (Mr. George A. Papandreou, Minister of Foreign Affairs)

Please carefully read our special disclaimer related to Athens 2004 Olympic Games material and information published on INVgr. INV International Ltd. is not responsible for the content of external Web sites.

Last updated: March 4th, 2003.

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