BY: BWALYA G. MWAMBA GABORONE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL THE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPICS GAMES
The Olympic and Paralympics Games are an exciting global event. The build up to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics games in London is getting more exciting as this event draws near. The theme is “Inspire a generation.”
The Olympic Truce is symbolized by the dove with the traditional Olympic flame in the background. It is renewed every 2 years before the summer and winter games. Olympic Games’ history
The Olympic Truce Tradition is a vital part of every Olympic and Paralympics game(s). What is the Olympic Truce? The Olympic Truce is an agreement made between countries to encourage a peaceful environment and insure the safety of athletes and all peoples relevant in the games, helping mobilize youths in the involvement in creating a more peaceful world. It symbolizes peace and equality. This tradition of the“Truce” or “Ekecheiria” (Greek) dates back to ancient Greece , when a treaty between three kings was made. The Truce was (and still is) announced 7 days before the event. International Committee of Olympics revived this Truce to protect the interests of the athletes & the first United Nations (UN) General Assembly Resolution was passed.
The origins of the Olympic Games can be traced back to 776 BC. These games were dedicated to Olympian gods and took place in the ancient plains of Olympia. They included running, javelin and equestrian events.Women were restricted from participation but this changed during the Paris 1900 Olympic Games. Paralympics Games and Olympic Games became one event in 2001, 19 June, when an agreement concerning the protection of the organization of the Paralympics Games was made, with the aim of creating similar principles of organization of the Olympic and Paralympics Game. This agreement came into effect during the 2008 Beijing Paralympics games.
Sports and Peace promotion Sport has brought hope to many people in countries suffering from war and instability, something to believe in. For instance, in Cote Devoir, Football brought the nation together during the AFCON 2012 games as they supported their football team in the hopes of winning. Sports in it-self cannot be the only solution but can be used as a tool to create a more peaceful global village. Through the concept of the Olympic Truce, the IOC aims to: • mobilize youth for the promotion of the Olympic ideals; • use sport to establish contacts between communities in conflict; • offer humanitarian support in countries at war; and more generally: • create a window of opportunities for dialogue and reconciliation "Sports by its nature may be competitive, but sports can be a very powerful tool and vehicle to promote dialogue and peace and reconciliation. Unfortunately we are experiencing problems in many parts of the world, but through sports we can promote peace and dialogue and reconciliation. This is exactly what the United Nations and the IOC share - the same goals and objectives." W. Shakespeare in his works, once said that the world is a stage and we all have roles to play. In this regard one can conclude that we do have poor to use every too at our disposal to determine our fate. If then that is the case, let it be SPORTS, giving birth to PEACE.
….The End…..