Model United Nations project highlights power of Olympic Truce for French youth ahead of Paris 2024

The initiative of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee aimed to promote peace and fraternity among nations, echoing the ancient tradition of the Olympic Truce. It was supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Académies de Paris and de Créteil, the Seine Saint-Denis Department, the City of Paris, the French Development Agency and the student association Sorbonne ONU.

Sport as a force for good

Addressing participants via video, IOC President Thomas Bach underlined the important role they will play in ensuring a peaceful future for the world, and highlighted how next year’s Olympic Games will carry the same important message.

“In these difficult times, with the proliferation of wars and conflicts, your voice – the voice of the youth – is essential,” he said. “The future belongs to you. That is why we rely on your ideas, your creativity and your commitment so that, together, we can promote sport as a force for good throughout our world.

“After several months of work, your resolution is full of innovative ideas. As we approach the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024, you are sending an important signal. You, the future diplomats, exemplify our Olympic motto excellently: Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together.

“The word ‘together’ tells us that no matter the challenges we face, we can only go faster, aim higher, become stronger if we are together – united.

“When the world's best athletes gather in Paris next year, they will send this same inspiring message of peace and solidarity to all of humanity.”

A two-phase project engaging youth

For this Model UN initiative, each participating class was allocated a different country and then studied its country's relationship with sport and sports diplomacy. The students developed innovative proposals on the role of sport in society, covering themes such as peace, gender equality, climate change, education, disability and inclusion.

The culmination of their efforts took place in two parts. The first phase, held on 7 June, focused on fostering solidarity among the students through sports activities. Four delegates (two girls and two boys) were then selected from each class to represent their country and participate in the second phase: a simulated negotiation session at the Paris City Hall on 12 June.

During the simulation, the 120 participants engaged in group discussions throughout the day, working on a draft resolution compiled from the proposals of all the classes involved. The resolution, consisting of 130 ideas across the five themes, amplifies the voice of the youth, showcasing their inspiring perspectives on leveraging sports for peace, the environment, education and equality. The amended and finalised resolution was then adopted during a plenary session at the Paris City Council.

Following the Model UN simulation day, an eight-member jury has now selected 16 delegates who have been chosen to participate in a trip to New York to attend the UN General Assembly in autumn 2023. On this occasion, the selected delegates will be able to present their resolution to President Bach in-person and discuss their proposals with him.

This innovative educational initiative not only empowers young minds to explore the potential of sport as a tool for positive change, but also fosters global solidarity and understanding among future leaders, and forms an integral part of Paris 2024’s efforts to engage local youth in the Olympic values ahead of next year’s Olympic Games.

Underlining the importance of involving young people in the Games, Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024, said: “Youth are at the heart of the Paris 2024 project. Above all, we want to transmit the values and make known the magical powers of sports and the Games to Generation 2024.

That is why we were particularly touched by this project, which allowed middle school girls and boys from Paris and Seine-Saint-Denis to take an interest in the democratic functioning of international institutions while reflecting on issues related to sport and society. Congratulations to these young people who have been involved and have worked for months on inspiring proposals that have led to this resolution.”

The Olympic Truce

The Olympic Truce, a tradition rooted in the history of the ancient Olympic Games, was reinstated in 1993 and is the subject of a UN General Assembly resolution passed prior to each edition of the Games. It calls on UN member states to cease conflicts and violence during a period of seven days before and after the Olympic and Paralympic Games. During each edition of the Summer and Winter Games, the Organising Committees commit to promoting the values of peace and fraternity associated with the Olympic Truce among the youth