The general Assembly of the UN Today, by an absolute majority, it called on all countries in the world to respect the traditional Olympic truce on the occasion of next year’s Paris Games, a symbolic resolution that is not binding and that was not supported by Russia.
The opinion, adopted by 118 votes in favor, none against, with Russia and Syria abstaining, urges Member States to “observe the Olympic Truce individually and collectively” seven days before the start of the Olympic Games. Olympic Games from Paris (July 26 and August 11, 2024) and seven days after the end of the Paralympics (August 28 to September 8).
The text prepared by France and co-sponsored by more than 60 countries, also highlights the “importance of cooperation between Member States to implement the values of the Olympic Truce in the world”.
“The Games are the best embodiment of the power of sport because they spread its values of sharing, tolerance and respect throughout the world”declared Tony Estanguet, head of the Organizing Committee of the Paris Olympic Games, on the UN platform.
“They combine the values of sport and the diversity of the world, they are universal,” he said in statements cited by the AFP news agency.
“In the current context of conflicts and tensions that we are experiencing, we are more convinced than ever that we need the Games,” Estanguet added.
Inspired by the ancient Greek tradition of “ekecheiria”, which imposed the cessation of all hostilities during the ancient Olympic Games, the Olympic Truce was reintroduced by the UN in 1993, following an initiative by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Generally adopted by consensus every two years before the Winter and Summer Games, this truce is not always respected.
For example, the IOC considers Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 to be a violation of the Olympic truce linked to the Beijing Winter Games that year.
For this reason, it recommends that international federations ban their competitions on Russian soil and ban all official Russian symbols: anthems and flags.
Source: Ambito
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