t e S Get global goes
e h t r o f Get Set
le fi t c a F – e c u r T c i p m y l O
The history of the Olympic Truce The Olympic Truce can be traced back to the origins of the first recorded Olympic Games held in Olympia, on the Peloponnese peninsular of Ancient Greece in 776BC. At this time Ancient Greece was made up of different regions that were almost constantly at war with each other. To try to find a way to end these wars, King Iphitos, who ruled the region of Elis (in which Olympia is situated), organised an athletic contest once every four years, during which a Truce was proclaimed.
In 884BC a treaty was signed by the rulers of the regions of Elis (King Iphitos), Sparta (King Lycurgus) and Pisa (King Cleisthenes) decreeing a cessation of hostilities for the duration of the Olympic Games. The Olympic Truce or ‘Ekecheria’ began seven days prior to the opening of the Olympic Games and ended on the seventh day following the closing of the Games. The Truce allowed competitors, officials, artists and spectators from all over ancient Greece safe travel across enemy territory to the Games in Olympia. The Truce also provided a peaceful environment in which the Games could take place.
So, from its very beginnings, peace has been of central importance to the staging of the Olympic Games. There is evidence to suggest that the Truce was respected, with only a small number of exceptions, for more than 1,200 years. It has therefore been the longest peace accord in history.
The modern day Olympic Games and Olympic Truce The modern Olympic Movement began in 1894 when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was formed. The first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896 but it was not until a century later that attempts were made to revive the Olympic Truce.
The Truce offers: –– A respite from conflict and strife –– A window of time for dialogue and understanding between nations –– A pause to provide humanitarian assistance and relief from suffering –– Help for athletes from areas of conflict to attend and compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games –– The opportunity for competitors, officials and spectators irrespective of their ethnic origin, gender, culture, religion, language or political system to live and compete in unity, peace and harmony –– The opportunity for individuals from around the world to observe the spirit of unity and friendship that exists during the Games, and to reflect on how these values can be promoted in their local communities and countries
In 1992, the IOC decided to bring the Olympic Truce back, in collaboration with the United Nations – allowing athletes of the former Republic of Yugoslavia to participate in the Barcelona Games. The IOC wished to protect the interests of athletes and sport in general, and to find ways of pursuing its goals of searching for peaceful and diplomatic solutions to the conflicts of the world. The Truce has become an expression of a desire to build a world based on the rules of fair competition, humanity, reconciliation and tolerance. Since 1992, every Host Nation of Winter and Summer Olympic Games has declared the Truce. Like in the ancient Games, it is observed from seven days before the opening of the Olympic Games until the seventh day after the end.
The Truce does not aim to bring about peace to all generations for all times. It offers a small opportunity to demonstrate to the world that unity, peace and harmony are possible amongst the peoples and nations of the world.
The Olympic Truce making a difference There are a number of examples of how the Olympic Truce has been observed at previous Games. These include:
Year Venue
Games
Opportunity created by the Truce
1994
Lillehammer, Norway
Winter Olympics
An appeal for the observance of the Olympic Truce allowed athletes from the former Republic of Yugoslavia to attend the games in Norway. During the time of the ceasefire thousands of children were able to be inoculated.
1998
Nagano, Japan
Winter Olympics
The observance of the Olympic Truce during the 18th Winter Games contributed to dialogue and a search for solutions to the Iraq conflict.
2000
Sydney, Australia
Summer Olympics
In a show of unity, the South and North Korean delegations paraded into the Stadium together at the Opening Ceremony, under the single flag of the Korean peninsula.
The role of the United Nations and the Olympic Truce The Olympic Movement and the United Nations (UN) seek similar outcomes and share the same ideals of tolerance and understanding, equal opportunities and fair play, and fundamentally the search for peace amongst nations and peoples of the world. The UN believes sport can promote peace, tolerance and understanding because values such as teamwork, fairness, discipline and respect for the opposition and rules are universally understood across the world, and that these values can be used to bring people of different cultures and religions together.
Truce Walls
The idea of Truce Walls is relatively new to the Olympic Games. The first Wall was created by the Greek government for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Athletes, personalities and officials were asked to sign the wall as a symbol of their individual and collective commitment to peace and solidarity. The Truce Wall has become a visible symbol of the Olympic Truce and the athletes’ pledge to support peace and understanding through sport, to live peacefully at the Olympic Village, and to promote peace and understanding through sport in their own countries. The Truce Wall created for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games:
In 1993, as a way of affirming joint priorities, a formal partnership was established between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the UN. Member states of the UN now express their support for the Olympic Truce by adopting a resolution, ‘Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal’, every two years. In doing this, the UN invites its 191 member states to observe the Olympic Truce during the forthcoming Games. Since 1998 the flag of the United Nations has also flown at all competitive sites of the Olympic Games.
– it consists of two pillars featuring Aboriginal artworks, recreating the Vancouver 2010 medals in 3D form. It is worth visiting the website of the International Olympic Truce Centre for additional information and documents about the history of the Olympic Truce www.olympictruce.org. More information on the UN can be obtained from www.un.org.