UN General Assembly urges member states to observe Olympic Truce

Just days ahead of the opening of the XXI Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, the UN General Assembly on Monday appealed for all member states to observe the ancient tradition of the Olympic Truce.

"I solemnly appeal to all member states to demonstrate their commitment to the Olympic Truce for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and to undertake concrete actions at the local, national, regional and world levels to promote and strengthen a culture of peace and harmony based on the spirit of the Truce," said Assembly President Ali Abdussalam Treki at a plenary meeting.

He said the ancient Greek tradition of ekecheiria, or "Olympic Truce," born in the eighth century B.C., served as a hallowed principle of the Olympic Games.

In 1992, the International Olympic Committee had renewed that tradition by calling on all nations to observe the Truce.

By adopting a resolution on Oct. 25, 1993, the General Assembly urged member states to observe the Olympic Truce from the seventh day before the opening to the seventh day following the closing of each Olympic Games.

"This appeal was renewed in the Millennium Declaration," Treki said, adding that the outcome of the Assembly's 2005 World Summit emphasized that sports could foster peace and development, and encouraged member states to foster a dialogue and agreed proposals for a plan of action on sport and development.

To that end, he said, on Oct. 19, 2009, the Assembly had adopted a resolution urging member states to observe, within the framework of the United Nations Charter, the Olympic Truce, individually and collectively, during the XXI Winter Olympic Games, to be held in Vancouver from Feb. 12 to 28, and the X Paralympic Winter Games, to be held from March 12 to 21.

"The Olympic movement aspires to contribute to a peaceful future for all humankind through the educational value of sport," he said.

He noted that the games would bring together athletes from all parts of the world in the greatest international sports events as a means to promote peace, mutual understanding and goodwill among nations and peoples -- "goals that are also part of the founding values of the United Nations."

Source: Xinhua