What is the Olympic Truce
The Olympic Truce has its origins in ancient Greece. The Truce allowed athletes, artists and spectators to travel to Olympia to participate in the Olympic Games and return home in peace.
In the early 1990s, the International Olympic Committee revived the tradition of the Olympic Truce. In the modern Olympic Games, the Truce aims to highlight how sport can bring the world together without racism, politics or prejudice.
Before every Summer and Winter Games, the government of the next host country is asked to take a resolution, entitled ‘Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal’, and present it to the UN General Assembly. Following tradition, in October 2011 all 193 member states of the United Nations co-sponsored the resolution, introduced by Seb Coe, the Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), on behalf of the UK Government.
Promoting the Olympic Truce
LOCOG has developed the London 2012 Olympic Truce programme to help raise awareness of the Olympic Truce and to encourage young people and communities to use sport and culture to promote peace. The programme is being delivered through:
- Education – ‘Get Set for the Olympic Truce’, part of London 2012’s Get Set education programme, offers online materials including films, case studies and activity ideas to help introduce the concept of the Olympic Truce to young people and to support them in delivering activities which promote peace within their school and community.
- Culture – The Truce strand of Film Nation Shorts, presented by Panasonic and delivered with Peace One Day, invites14–25 year olds to create films that reflect the theme of truce. LOCOG also supports a series of concerts delivered by Peace One Day as part of the London 2012 Festival – the second will take place on 21 June 2012 in Derry-Londonderry.
- Inspire –LOCOG recognises outstanding non-commercial projects which are inspired by the London 2012 Games through the Inspire programme. The Truce strand of the programme recognises projects that use sport or culture to help build bridges between and within communities.
In addition, at Games time, LOCOG will invite athletes, officials and dignitaries to highlight their support for the truce by signing the Olympic Truce Wall in the Olympic and Paralympic Village.
Working with partners
The UK Government is delivering activities which promote the ideals of peace and conflict resolution in the lead-up to the London 2012 Games. They are working in partnership with a variety of NGOs including Peace One Day and the UN Association of the UK.
