Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: The 3,000-year-old Olympic Truce showed its power this year on the Korean Peninsula
Although the Olympic Truce, first observed in 776 BC, is nearly 3,000 years old, it has gained new life and meaning this past year, as the spirit of reconciliation and mutual respect it fosters was exemplified by North and South Korea at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.
Former Secretary-General of the United Nations and current Chair of the IOC Ethics Commission Ban Ki-moon praised the efforts of the two Koreas, along with the IOC, for working towards unity at the recent Games and noted that their strong effort continues today.
Ban pointed out that the foundation for Korean unity was begun at two previous editions of the Games, in Athens in 2004 and Turin in 2006, when North and South Korea marched together at the Opening Ceremony. Presidents Moon Jae-In and Kim Jong-Un were able to build on that foundation in talks with the IOC on the logistics of fielding a unified team, leading to that special moment when they marched together at the Opening Ceremony. Now, it continues with talks today on a joint team at the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.