Olympic Truce
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The tradition of the “Olympic Truce”, or “Ekecheiria”, was established in Ancient Greece in the ninth century BC through the signing of a treaty between three kings – Iphitos of Elis, Cleisthenes of Pisa and Lycurgus of Sparta – to allow safe participation in the ancient Olympic Games for all athletes and spectators from these Greek city-states, which were otherwise almost constantly engaged in conflict with each other.
Taking into account the new political reality in which sport and the Olympic Games exist, the IOC decided to revive the concept of the Olympic Truce for the Olympic Games in the 1990s, with a view to protecting, as far as possible, the interests of the athletes and sport in general, and to harness the power of sport to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation more broadly.
Since 1993, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly has repeatedly expressed its support for the Olympic Truce ideal and for the IOC’s mission by adopting, every two years – one year before each edition of the Olympic Games – a resolution entitled "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal".
The IOC’s undertakings for the Olympic Truce extend beyond the period of the Olympic Games and have led to the implementation of a series of "sport for peace" activities through the National Olympic Committees.
The Symbol
The Olympic Truce is symbolised 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 people across 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 the diversity of humanity coming together for the observance of the Truce.
Olympic Games Organising Committee initiatives
In line with the Fundamental Principles of the Olympic Charter, the Organising Committees for the Olympic Games are required to carry out various activities in the period leading up to and during the Games, with the aim of:
- promoting peace, human understanding and community-building through sport; and
- promoting the concept of the Olympic Truce.
It has also become customary for athletes – and stakeholders from the broader Olympic Movement – to sign an Olympic Truce Mural located in the Olympic Village to show their support for the Olympic Truce and peacebuilding through sport, and demonstrate that the Olympic Games bring together individuals from different backgrounds, origins and cultures.
Each Games edition’s uniquely designed mural collects thousands of signatures and offers a unique opportunity for athletes from around the world to show their support for the values of peace, respect, solidarity, inclusion and equality. The Olympic Truce Mural remains in the host country to leave a visible legacy to remind local communities of the values of peace, respect, solidarity, inclusion, equality, friendship and understanding.
Organising Committees (OCOGs) have continued to be innovative in the way they apply the Olympic Truce concept.
Initiatives in detail
The Paris 2024 OCOG set out an ambitious programme, drawing its inspiration from the French Republic’s core civic values by promoting the ideals and principles of sport as a driver of “fraternity”. The keystone engagement project was a Model United Nations with 600 students from Paris and the region of Seine-Saint-Denis. Their outcome “Olympic Truce Resolution” included 130 recommendations on the role of sport in society, covering themes such as peace, gender equality, climate change, education and inclusion.
Sixteen of the student delegates, selected by a jury that included IOC Refugee Team Athlete and Paris 2024 Chef de Mission Masomah Ali Zada and Para athlete Clavel Kayitaré, were given the opportunity to travel to New York to attend the adoption of the Olympic Truce Resolution by the UN General Assembly. Paris also produced the Sport and Fraternity exhibit, composed of 25 photos illustrating the power of sport to create fraternal moments (i.e. bringing communities and individuals together through the experience of sport, on a national and international level). The exhibition was made available to all Generation 2024 Schools, 146 French embassies and consulates and is now on display in various iconic locations in Paris. It was also showcased in the halls of the UN during the adoption of the Resolution.
Ahead of its Games, the Beijing 2022 Organising Committee developed a comprehensive programme to promote the ideals of the Olympic Truce within its territory. Among other things, its Olympic Truce Programme was implemented through educational and engagement activities with young people and the population at large. These included sessions with Olympic education model schools and schools with winter sports programmes across the country, leveraging the Chinese edition of the Olympic Values Education Programme and a range of video assets developed for this purpose.
The Organising Committee also held various events to promote the Olympic Truce, including the China International Forum for Olympic Education, with participants from several Olympic academies of other countries and experts and scholars from universities in China. As part of its Olympic Truce programme, the Beijing 2022 Organising Committee also cooperated with the IOC for the adoption by the United Nations of a resolution entitled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal” which invites Member States to commit to the Olympic Truce, and created the Olympic Truce Murals, which were located in each Olympic Village and gave athletes and officials the opportunity to sign to show their support for the ideals of the Olympic Truce.
For Tokyo 2020, the Organising Committee promoted the ideal of the Olympic Truce, in particular through a project called “Peace Orizuru”, inviting residents and visitors to make origami cranes. Origami cranes have long been considered a symbol of peace in Japan, and activities inviting the population to fold cranes in the name of peace were held all over the country. In addition, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Truce Mural concept was “Frame of Peace”, recognising diversity, connecting people together and bringing harmony.
For PyeongChang 2018, the peace dimension was of great significance, as the city was located close to the peninsula’s Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) dividing line. Achieving “Peace Olympics” was a core value of PyeongChang 2018, and to do this, the Organising Committee was at the forefront of promoting and spreading peace by implementing the Olympic Truce programme, through comprehensive education and engagement activities leading up to the Games. The two Koreas marching jointly at the Opening Ceremony and the participation of a unified Korean women’s ice hockey team, in particular, sent a powerful message of peace to the entire globe.
For Rio 2016, a challenge was launched across schools to promote the concept of the Olympic Truce. Each student was invited to create their own peace flag, and these were then combined to create a mosaic flag displayed in the main tourist spots and Olympic venues.
For Sochi 2014, the Olympic Truce was an important and consistent part of the Games education and culture programme. The Russian International Olympic University (RIOU), which opened its doors to students from across the world, was a symbolic example of the Olympic Truce ideals.
For London 2012, the Organising Committee (LOCOG) raised the bar in delivering Olympic Truce activities, inviting everyone to play their part. Through its educational programme entitled “Get set for the Olympic Truce”, LOCOG was able to involve 85 per cent of schools and colleges across the country. In addition, LOCOG launched a strand of its Inspire Programme, which allowed projects using sport or culture to promote peace and conflict resolution to be linked to and recognised by the London 2012 Games.
For Vancouver 2010, the idea of having the Governor General of Canada as Patron of the Olympic Truce at the Games gave the concept its highest profile since it was reinstated in 1992. The Governor General, Michaëlle Jean, was a perfect symbol of the Olympic Truce, as she represented the diversity and richness of Canada’s culture, population and languages, and, most of all, tolerance.
International Olympic Truce Centre
In the framework of promoting peace through sport and the Olympic ideal, the International Olympic Truce Centre (IOTC) was founded in July 2000 by a joint initiative of the IOC and Greece. Its headquarters are in Athens, with a symbolic office in Olympia.
The IOTC focuses its action around the following objectives:
- To promote the Olympic ideals to serve peace, friendship and understanding in the world, and in particular, to promote the Ancient Greek tradition of the Olympic Truce;
- To initiate conflict prevention and resolution through sport, culture and the Olympic ideals, and promote peace in general by mobilising young people worldwide.
- To cooperate with all inter- and non-governmental organisations specialised in this field, to develop educational and research programmes, and to launch communications campaigns, meetings and conferences to promote the Olympic Truce.
The IOTC is administered by a Board made up of personalities from the world of sport and politics, which meets once a year (chaired by the IOC).