IOC strongly condemns breach of Olympic Truce by Putin

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has strongly condemned the Russian government for violating the Olympic Truce.

Dating back to ancient Greece in 776 B.C. the truce was announced before and during the Olympic Games to ensure the host city state was not attacked, and athletes and spectators could travel safely to the Games and peacefully return to their respective countries.

Today the Olympic Truce calls for “the cessation of hostilities from seven days before the start of the Olympic Games on February 4, until seven days after the closing of the Paralympic Games on March 13.

IOC President Thomas Bach again reiterated his call for peace which he expressed at both the Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Games.

He called on political authorities to, “observe your commitment to this Olympic Truce, be inspired by the example of solidarity and peace set by the Olympic athletes. Give peace a chance.”

Bach and the IOC are very concerned about the safety of the Olympic community in Ukraine, and has established a task force to closely monitor the situation and to coordinate humanitarian assistance to members of the Olympic community in Ukraine.