What is the Olympic Truce and why is the UN appealing to observe it during Tokyo 2020?

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<strong>The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir, today made a solemn appeal to the UN Member States for the observance of the Olympic Truce for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, following the resolution adopted in December 2019. The resolution calls for the Olympic Truce to be respected from 16 July to 12 September 2021 – seven days before the start of the Olympic Games until seven days after the Paralympic Games. The Tokyo Olympic Games are due to start on July 23.<br />
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Entitled 'Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic Ideal', the resolution was passed unanimously at the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly and was co-sponsored by 186 out of 193 UN Member States, demonstrating the power of sport and the relevance of the Olympic Games to bring the world together in peaceful competition, providing hope for a better future.<br />
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"The Olympic Movement aspires to contribute to a peaceful future for all humankind through the educational value of sport, in particular youth," said Bozkir in the appeal.<br />
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"The Games will bring together athletes from all parts of the world in the greatest of international sports events as a means to promote peace, mutual understanding and goodwill among nations and peoples — goals that are also part of the founding values of the United Nations. For the second time, the IOC Refugee Olympic Team will participate under the Olympic flag in the Olympic Games in Tokyo, acting as a powerful symbol of inclusion and our shared humanity," he added.<br />
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<strong>The Olympic Truce – a tradition for more than 3,000 years </strong><br />
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The tradition of the Olympic Truce – 'Ekecheira' – has been to ensure a halt of all hostilities, allowing the safe passage and participation of athletes and spectators taking part in the Olympic Games. The resolution reaffirms that the Olympic values of peace, solidarity and respect are as important across the world today as they were over 3,000 years ago, when the ancient Olympic Games first took place in Greece.<br />
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The main objectives pursued by the IOC through the Olympic Truce are to mobilise young people for the promotion of the Olympic ideal; to use sport to help build bridges between communities in conflict; and, more generally, to create a window of opportunity for dialogue and reconciliation.<br />
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"The Olympic Games are the only event today that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. This is why we are so grateful to the UN Member States for their support of the Olympic Truce resolution. With this resolution, they are supporting the values and principles that unite us," said IOC President Thomas Bach.  </p>
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