UN Adopts Olympic Truce

(ATR) With 121 sponsors, the United Nations adopted the Olympic Truce without a vote.

Delegates from all over the world spoke at the United Nations on Wednesday, expressing the power of sport and the Olympics during discussion on the Olympic Truce.

The four-page resolution called "Sport for peace and development: building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal" is passed before every Olympics, and calls on all wars to stop during the period of the Olympic Games. The Sochi 2014 Games are scheduled for Feb. 7 – 23.

Sochi 2014 CEO and president Dmitry Chernyshenko was the first speaker. He was then followed by representatives from dozens of countries, speaking for more than two hours at UN headquarters in New York City.

Chernyshnenko expressed his appreciation for the UN’s work in promoting sport, and talked of sport’s role in the world.

"Sport shows how peace can be strengthened because it knows no geographic or social limits. Sport is a way of strengthening integration and economic integration at all levels," he said.

"Given the role of sports, the UN believes that it is a way to improve and increase solidarity among peoples."

IOC President Thomas Bach made his first speech to the UN as IOC president, saying, "Olympic Principles are United Nations principles."

Speaking in support of what he called a "sacred truce," Bach appealed for greater appreciation of sport’s role within political structures. Bach’s speech perhaps offered a glimpse at his diplomatic style when dealing with the world’s political organizations.

"Precisely because many of our principles are the same, it must always be clear in the relationship between sport and politics, that the role of sport is always to build bridges. It is never to build walls."

He added that "sport must consider politics in its decisions."

"Sport must include political considerations in its decisions. It must consider the political economic and social implications of its decisions. This is particularly true when choosing the venues for major sports events, above all the biggest and most important of these, the Olympic Games.

"With the Olympic Games, the IOC sets an example for peaceful interaction."

Bach took time to stress that the IOC recognizes the world’s diversity and hopes sporting boycotts are avoided.

"We never accuse or exclude anyone," he said.

"For this reason we oppose boycotts of anykind. Boycotts are a fundamental contradiction to the spirit of sport, depriving it of the means to work for peace, mutual understanding and solidarity."

Some of the countries that took to the podium were non-traditional winter sport powers, including Cuba, Kuwait, Malaysia and several others.

One noteworthy speech came from Truce co-sponsor the United States. AmbassadorElizabeth Cousens said the U.S. wanted to draw attention to language it inserted for the first time in the Truce. The phrase called for host countries to "promote social inclusion without discrimination of any kind," she said, "regardless of identity."

"It sends a powerful message, highlighting the role that sport plays for all people," she said.

Other delegates took turns to highlight continued national concerns, as seen through the prism of sports. Israel addressed the 1972 Munich terror attacks and ongoing discrimination against Israelis in sport competitions. Ukraine mentioned its recently approved 2022 Olympic bid. Zambia spoke of sport’s powers to combat societal ills, including "beer drinking."

Written by Ed Hula III.

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