The Greek foreign
minister, George Papandreou, said before the plenum that as the host of the 2004 Olympic Games Greece felt responsible for promoting the Olympic ideal.
"We hope that Athens will become a beacon of peace during the coming Games", said the
minister. "Let us use this international institution of peace to send out a symbolic message of peace for the Games and,
indeed, for a more peaceful world."
The first resolution passed by the UN Assembly for a global
truce during the Olympic Games was in 1993. This tradition is rooted in the Greek tradition known as „Ekecheiria", which dates back to the 8th century BC and which was initially established to allow all athletes to travel to the Olympic Games in
safety. A truce was always held during the Games. This ceasefire was originally over a period of one
month, but was later expanded to encompass a period of up to three months. During this ceasefire period
spectators, dignitaries and athletes were able to make their was to Olympia, even when they had to pass though the territory of a state with which their own state was at war. This rule was respected
throughout Ancient Greece.
In order to develop this tradition on a worldwide
scale, the "International
Olympic Truce Centre" was founded in July 2000 in Athens. In addition to this, the United Nations issued the following statement in its
Millennium Declaration dated September 8th 2000, "We urge Member States to observe the Olympic
Truce, individually and collectively, now and in the future, and to support the International Olympic Committee in its efforts to promote peace and human understanding through sport and the Olympic Ideal."
This initiative had become necessary because the USA had rejected an Olympic ceasefire prior to the Winter Games beginning in Salt Lake City in 2002. The USA's decision came on the back of the September 11th terrorist attacks and its desire not to have its hands
tied. The American foreign secretary, Colin Powell substantially limited the scope of the Olympic vision of Pease by
saying: "Our call for Olympic peace does not guarantee a ceasefire and only applies for the location itself and for the transport“.
[Brot für die Welt / Nationales Olympisches Komitee / Deutsche UNESCO-Kommission (Hg.): Fair Play for Fair Life 2004, Stuttgart 2004] |
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Assessment of the importance of Olympic Peace
"The message of peace and the attempt to achieve a
truce for at least 16 days is, in terms of peace politics, very relevant for three
reasons.
Firstly, Olympic peace would give those people living in war zones at least a short opportunity to live without fear and to sleep
peacefully.
Secondly, it would make it clear to those people living with war that it's possible to coexist peacefully and that there are alternatives to war.
And,
thirdly, it would serve in underlining that the warring parties shared important
values, which could provide a starting point for the development of more shared areas of agreement.
Perhaps the most essential thing in this
regard, however, is that everyone obliges themselves to a ceasefire and not just
nation states. Because more than ever before it's vital that the move for a ceasefire rooted in international law is adhered to by all groups in society.
To this end, the call for a
truce offers the opportunity to reach out to warlords and terrorist groups and appeal to them to - perhaps for the very first time -
oblige themselves to a transnational norm. What, we wonder, would be the response of Osama bin Laden?
But for this to be
achieved, the United Nations, the Arab League of Nations and the Conference of Islamic States must at least put this question to them. How would president Bush respond to
this?
Unfortunately, however, Olympic Peace looks set to remain a utopian dream given that political and military considerations are (still)
stronger.“
[Dr. Thomas Nielebock, Peace Researcher at the University of Tübingen] |
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