The Olympic Truce

The International Olympic Truce Foundation

The International Olympic Truce Gianni Gola, President, International Erica Terpstra, Olympian, former Foundation (IOTF), founded by the IOC, Military Sport Council Sports Minister of the Netherlands held its first meeting in Athens, on 24 Theo-Ben Gurirab, President of the Mario Vazquez Raña, President, July, 2000, under the chairmanship of United Nations General Assembly Association of National Olympic Juan Antonio Samaranch. The Board Committees representing the NOC’s approved the statutes of the João Havelange, Dean of IOC mem- Hein Verbruggen, President, Foundation, based on Swiss law, the bers, Honorary President of FIFA International Cycling Union represent- launch of the International Olympic Michael Knight, Chairman, Sydney ing the International Federations Truce Centre (IOTC) and established it’s Organizing Committee for the XXXVII administrative structure. The Board Olympic Games Secretary also appointed Fekrou Kidané and Kéba Mbaye, IOC Vice President, Fékrou Kidané, Director of the Thierry Sprunger, secretary and trea- Former Vice President of the Department of International surer respectively, and Stavros International Court of Justice Cooperation of the IOC Lambrinidis as Director of the Centre. Karolos Papoulias, Member of the The Board of the IOTF is composed as Treasurer Greek Parliament follows: Thierry Sprunger, Director of the Javier Perez de Cuellar, Former Department of Control and Chairman Secretary General of the United Coordination of Operations of the IOC Juan Antonio Samaranch President, Nations International Olympic Committee Mitt Romney, Chairman, Salt Lake Director of IOTC City Organizing Committee for the Stavros Lambrinidis, Ambassador Vice-Chairman Winter Games of 2002 George Papandreou, Greek Minister The International Olympic Truce for Foreign Affairs Robert D. Steadward, President, Centre was also officially launched in International Paralympic Committee Athens, Greece, on 24 July, 2000, by Members Thorvald Stoltenberg, Former Foreign the IOC President, Juan Antonio Yasushi Akashi, Chairman, Japan Minister of Norway, designated by the Samaranch, and the Greek Minister Centre for Preventative Diplomacy. Secretary General of the United for Foreign Affairs, George Former Under Secretary General of Nations Papandreou. the United Nations Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, Chairwoman, Athens Organizing Committee for the XXVIII Olympic Games Patrick Baudry, Goodwill Ambassador, UNESCO, Astronaut, designated by the Director General of UNESCO René Blanchet, Chancellor of the Paris Universities Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Secretary General, Organization of the International Francophonie, Former Secretary General of the United Nations lngvar Carlsson, Former Prime Minister of Sweden (from l. to r.) Karolos Papoulias, Howard Stupp, Javier Pérez de Cuellar, Theo-Ben Gurirab, Valentino Castellani, Chairman, Torino Hein Verbruggen, João Havelange, François Carrard, Erica Terpstra, Thierry Sprunger, George Papandreou, Stavros Lambrinidis, Juan Antonio Samaranch, Gianni Gola, Mario Vazquez Raña, Organizing Committee for the Winter Patrick Baudry, Valentine Castellani, Michael Knight, George Georgountzos, Yasushi Akashi, Games of 2006 Robert Steadward, Evelina Christillin, Fékrou Kidané and Lena Koutstbou.

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The ceremony was attended by the sport-based activities, the develop- and diplomatic solutions to the vari- President of the Hellenic Republic, ment of related academic and ous conflicts around the world. The Mr. Konstantinos Stefanopoulos and research programmes and communi- initiative is based on the Greek con- members of the International Olympic cation campaigns in cooperation with cept of Olympic Truce or “Ekecheiria”, Truce Foundation, and numerous inter and non-governmental organiza- which was established on the occa- personalities. tions and with national and interna- sion of the ancient Olympic Games in The International Olympic Truce tional institutions. Greece in the 9th century BC by the Centre, a non-governmental organi- The Athens Centre, managed by signature of a treaty between three zation, was created through a joint Stavros Lambrinidis will operate Kings, thanks to which there was a initiative of the International Olympic under the auspices of the permanent and recognized immunity Committee and of the Greek Ministry International Olympic Truce of the sanctuary at Olympia and the of Foreign Affairs with the view to help Foundation, with its symbolic head- region of Elis. Moreover, during the to promote the Olympic ideals, quarters in Olympia, and a liaison period of the Truce, the athletes, peace, friendship and international office in Lausanne. artists and their families, as well as understanding through sport and the The Olympic Truce aims to protect, ordinary pilgrims, could travel in total Olympic ideal. The main objective of as far as possible, the interests of the safety to participate in or attend the the Centre is the prevention and res- athletes and sport in general and to Olympic Games and return after- olution of conflict and tension through contribute to the search for peaceful wards to their respective countries.

The observance of the Olympic Truce in Africa

The Council of Ministers of the in Africa which was endorsed by the International Cooperation, Fékrou Organization of African Unity (OAU) OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Kidané, and by the President and held in Lomé (Togo), from 7 to 9 July Government also held in Lomé from Secretary General of the NOC of 2000 unanimously adopted a resolu- 10 to 12 July. The IOC was repre- Togo, Zoumaro Gnofame and Lucien tion initiated by the IOC (below) on sented at both conferences by the Moèvi Akpabie-Akue respectively. the observance of the Olympic Truce Director of the Department of

Resolution

Council: solidarity in Africa, the Assembly of Urges Member States to take the initia- Heads of State and Government tive to observe the Olympic Truce, indi- Stresses the importance of the invited Member States to commit vidually and collectively, and endeavour International Olympic Committee’s themselves to the peaceful settle- in accordance with the objectives and initiative to promote peace, and its ment of armed conflicts in Africa by principles of the Charters of the technical and humanitarian’ assis- the end of this year; Organization of African Unity and the tance to the sports movement in United Nations, to settle all disputes Africa; Urges Member States and all the par- through peaceful and diplomatic means; ties to the conflict to observe the Strongly deplores the persistence of Olympic Truce during the Games of the Requests the Secretary General to armed conflicts which mainly affect XXVII Olympiad to be held in Sydney promote the observance of the the women, children and youth of (Australia) from 15 September to 1 Olympic Truce in all Member States Africa; October 2000 and beyond, and also to and to cooperate closely with the ensure that the Olympic Truce becomes United Nations Organization and the Recalls that by declaring the year an instrument of peace, dialogue and International Olympic Committee to 2000 as a Year of peace, security and reconciliation in conflict zones; achieve this objective.

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