The Olympic Truce originated in Ancient Greece over 2,000 years ago to ensure safe travel for athletes and spectators to and from the Olympic Games. During this Truce, wars were suspended and legal disputes stopped. In modern times, the International Olympic Committee has revived this tradition, with the United Nations now adopting an annual resolution in support of the Olympic Truce. The Truce symbolizes the ideals of peace, friendship, and global togetherness through sport.

1. by Vlad Birzul
from 8-C
T.Shevchenko Gymnazia
Kirovograd
Ukraine

3. The Olympic Truce is a sacred tradition
originating from Ancient Greece that dates
back to the 9th century BC. A Truce (Ancient
Greek: ékécheiria, meaning "laying down of
arms") was announced before and during the
Olympic Games to ensure athletes and
spectators could travel safely to the Games and
peacefully return to their respective countries.
During the Truce period (lasting up to three
months), wars were suspended, armies were
prohibited from threatening the Games, legal
disputes were stopped, and death penalties
were forbidden.
In 1996, the Athens Bid Committee committed
to reviving the Olympic Truce and promoting
it to the world through the Olympic Flame
Relay. Three years later, the International
Olympic Committee announced the
establishment of the International Truce
Foundation and the International

4. The Olympic Truce is symbolized by
the dove of peace with the
traditional Olympic flame in the
background. In a world that is
plagued by wars and animosity, the
peace-dove symbol represents one of
the IOC's ideals to build a peaceful
and better world through sport and
the Olympic ideal. The Olympic
flame has brought warm friendship
to all the people of the world
through sharing and global
togetherness. In the symbol, the
flame is made up of colourful
effervescent elements, reminiscent
of festivities experienced in the
celebration of the human spirit.
These elements represent people of
all races coming together for the
observance of .

5. The United Nations is in support
of the Olympic Truce and before
each Olympic Games, adopts a
resolution called "Building a
peaceful and better world through
sport and the Olympic ideal".
“The Truce helps to show the
world that peace is a possibility,"
he said Monday in New York City.
"It shows the power that sport has
to inspire unity, mutual
understanding, and respect
among different types of people.”
Coe exhorted all member states of
the UN to respect the ideals of the
Truce.

6. In Geneva, on the same day that the
Olympic Truce Resolution was
adopted, UN Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon met Lord Bates who is
"walking for truce" from Mount
Olympus in Greece to London.
Ban Ki-moon praised Lord Bates for
raising awareness of the Truce and as
highlighting the fact that everyone has
the possibility to make a personal
contribution to peace. Ban Ki-moon
said that he hoped that London 2012
would provide great momentum to
solving the many conflicts which face
the world.