DEMOS

The Olympic Truce

The Olympic Games were originally formed as a movement for peace in the year 776 B.C. Representatives from the warring Peloponnese region contacted the oracle of Delphi to ask his advice on how to end the cycle of violence that
characterised the region. His answer was an athletic event in celebration of
peace during which all hostilities should cease, naming it ekecheira, its
modern translation; the Olympics, literally meaning the holding of hands.

Throughout ancient and modern times this spirit of Olympism has been
symbolised by the promotion of the Olympic Truce, which maintains the ideal
of encouraging peace and international reconciliation.

Historically, this mix of politics and sport has created both possibilities
for and success in conflict resolution. In recognition of its importance to
the Olympic Games and as a timely gesture to the international community,
the International Olympic Truce Centre was launched in Athens in July of
2000 by the International Olympic Committee. The Truce Centre strives to
support the Olympic ideal both for the duration of, and in between, the
Games.

Recent successes include;
1994 Olympic Winter Games, Lillehammer, Norway;
-a ceasefire between the People�s Liberation Army and government forces in
Sudan
-the suspension of conflict between Georgia and Abkhazia
-the UN General Assembly support for a ceasefire to permit the delivery of
humanitarian aid in Bosnia

2000 Olympic Summer Games, Sydney;
-African leaders pledged a halt to all hostilities for two weeks
-North and South Korea marched in the Olympic Stadium under the same banner.

2002 Olympic Winter Games, Salt Lake City
-The Bush administration submitted a resolution to the United Nations
endorsing the Olympic Truce to advocate the Olympians safe passage to and
from the games.

2002 A statement of support is currently under circulation, signatories
include Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton, the Pope of Rome and over 160 leading
international figures.

Where does DEMOS come in?
DEMOS is to generate an agenda setting publication and a major international
conference to raise the profile and develop the concept of the Olympic Truce
in advance of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Areas of discussion:
-How do you turn 16 days of peace into a longer term, and potentially final
resolution of conflict?
-The Taxonomy of peace; why and how do conflicts end?
-Positive global forces; the Olympic truce as a tool for global governance.