Every two years, during the autumn preceding each edition of the Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, the United Nations adopts a resolution calling for the observance of the Olympic Truce. This tradition harks back to the Games of Ancient Greece where, in the 9th century BC, the kings of the region would sign a treaty so that local inhabitants, athletes and artists could safely travel to the Olympic Games. According to custom, the ekecheira, or “truce” brought conflicts to a halt from seven days before the beginning of the Games until seven days after their conclusion.
THE MODERN GAMES ERA
In the modern Games era, the idea of reestablishing the Olympic Truce was launched by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1992. The IOC has worked with the United Nations (UN) since 1993; each year preceding an edition of the Olympic Games, the United Nations General Assembly reaffirms its support for the principle of the Olympic Truce by adopting a resolution.
The Olympic spirit is the most important symbol of peace in this world which sees so many conflicts, so many victims. The Olympic spirit allows people to be together from all over the world, to respect each other, to serve the themes of tolerance and mutual understanding. These make the basic elements of peace possible.
This symbolic revolution invites UN Member States to observe a truce during the Games, underlining the importance of Olympism and encouraging peace between nations. The aim is also to invite countries from all over the world to settle their international disputes through peaceful and diplomatic means, in line with the principles of the UN Charter.
THE RESOLUTION FOR THE OLYMPIC TRUCE OF THE PARIS 2024 GAMES
On 21 November 2023, Tony Estanguet and Thomas Bach took part in the 78thsession of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York to give an introductory speech to the resolution. At the end of the session, the resolution was adopted with 118 votes in favour and two abstentions. The resolution is titled, “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal.”
Sports appeal to tolerance and respect. Religious and cultural differences do not matter. And diversity is often actually a strength, because the complementarity of athletes from different backgrounds makes a team better. In sport, being different is what makes the difference. The Games are the best embodiment of the power of sport because they spread its values of sharing, tolerance, and respect throughout the world. They combine the values of sport and the diversity of the world; they are universal.
As is customary, the resolution called for the observance of the Olympic Truce seven days before the Olympic Games and seven days after the Paralympic Games, i.e., from 19 July to 15 September 2024.
The resolution recognises the unifying role of the Paris 2024 Games, which will welcome athletes from all the NOCs, as well as the Olympic and Paralympic refugee teams admitted by the IOC and the IPC. It also endorses the ambition of Paris 2024 and the IOC to include the same number of female and male athletes at the Olympic Games, resulting in the first ever Games to achieve gender parity. It also commends the role played by the Olympic and Paralympic athletes in promoting peace and harmony between peoples through sport and the Olympic ideal.
This is why the athletes, the entire Olympic community, billions of people around the world – all of us are looking forward to the Olympic Games Paris 2024, which will truly be Olympic Games of a new era: more inclusive and more sustainable. They will be the first Olympic Games with full gender parity. The first Olympic Games inspired, planned and delivered in line with our Olympic Agenda reforms from start to finish.
