The United Nations Calls for an Olympic Truce to be Observed during the Sochi 2014 Games

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has called for an "Olympic Truce" to be observed during the upcoming XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games of 2014 in the city of Sochi. The corresponding draft resolution entitled "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideals" was presented to the 68th session of the UN General Assembly by the President of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, Dmitry Chernyshenko.

A group of students from MGIMO, where one of the 26 Sochi 2014 volunteer centers is located, gave input to the resolution regarding the major role that the Sochi 2014 volunteer, cultural and educational programs are playing in promoting the idea of the Olympic Truce.

The resolution strongly recommends that Member States observe the "Olympic Truce" within the framework of the Statute of the United Nations, in the period from the beginning of the Olympic Winter Games to the end of the Paralympic Winter Games of 2014 in Sochi.

The document also notes that the draft resolution is a reminder that the principal idea of "Ekecheiria" (Olympic Truce) historically, has been the cessation of hostilities from seven days before until seven days after the Olympic Games, which, according to the legendary oracle of Delphi, was to replace the cycle of conflict with a friendly athletic competition every four years.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted:

"I welcome the adoption today by the General Assembly of the Olympic Truce Resolution ahead of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic and Paralympics Games. I also thank the Permanent Missions of the Russian Federation and Greece for hosting a special event at the United Nations to promote the Truce. The very strong support among Member States in sponsoring this resolution proves the power of sport to advance the cause of peace. I urge all countries to transform the resolution into action by pressing for an end to all hostilities during the Olympic Games and by promoting the spirit of the Truce throughout the year."

IOC President Thomas Bach said:

"The role of sport is always to build bridges, never walls. Sport stands for dialogue and understanding which transcend all differences. Sport, and the Olympic Movement especially, understands the global diversity of cultures, societies and life designs as a source of richness. We never accuse or exclude anyone." He continued, "Peace-building is a long process. Sport wants to be part of this process. However, we are aware of our own limits – but we want to use the power of our values and symbols to promote the positive, peaceful development of global society. These symbols, and especially the peaceful competition at the Olympic Games, should inspire all the people."

Sochi 2014 President Dmitry Chernyshenko marked:

"The Olympic Winter Games are helping to create positive change in Sochi, the wider region, and throughout Russia. The Games are acting as a catalyst to develop key infrastructure and deliver strong economic growth in the region. Equally important is the more intangible legacy that the Games are leaving. An inspiring example is the joint work of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee and "Generations for Peace". The program, driven by the Olympic values, has implemented a number of peace-building projects, which are led by participants from youth camps organized in Sochi between 2010 and 2011. The organizers of the Games in Sochi live by the principles of the Olympic Truce and share them with the world"

For more information, pleasecontact the Press Service for the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee at media@sochi2014.com, or at +7 495 984 2014.

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