Olympic Truce Wall Tradition

“Sport alone cannot enforce or maintain peace. But it has a vital role to play in building a better and more peaceful world.”
-Dr Jacques Rogge, IOC President, October 2007

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, and members of the IOC Executive Board and the IOC Athletes’ Commission, took part in a ceremony that featured the unveiling of the Olympic Truce Wall and the launch of the Olympic Games’ Giving is Winning campaign.

The tradition of the “Truce” or “Ekecheiria” established in ancient Greece in the 9th century BC, lives on today every Olympic Games. It began as a treaty between three kings that ensured that anyone could travel in total safety to take part in or be a spectator at the Olympic Games as well as return safety to their respective homes. The citizens of Elis spread the message throughout Greece as the games approached.

An Olympic Truce wall signifying global piece has been built at every Olympic Village since the Sydney games in 2000. Athletes and officials endorse this hope for peace by signing the wall. For the London 2012 games, the wall will be displayed at the British Olympic Museum in Olympic Park after the games.  The unveiling of the wall on July 23rd also served as tribute to the victims of the 1972 Munich Games terrorist attacks.

As is customary, the host country presented the Truce resolution to the United Nations to formally declare truce during the 2012 Olympic Games and for the first time, all 193 UN member states sponsored the resolution. The unveiling of the Truce Wall also kicked of the Giving is Winning solidarity campaign. The campaign seeks to help support sports activities in refugee camps. 75,000 items of casual and sports clothing were collected from the Olympic family for the Beijing Games Giving Is Winning Campaign. This summer’s campaign is expected to break all previous records by collecting more than 100,00 items of clothing for the beneficiary countries of Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

You can pledge your support for Olympic truce at the Olympic Truce Centre website.

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out!

Live Peace with Special Olympics

Today marks the start of the 2012 London Olympic games! The opening ceremony will take place tonight. You can keep up with the Olympics and Paralympics schedule on their respective websites. However, we must not forget the work that the Special Olympics does year round to support communities around the world.

The Special Olympics have been a worldwide resource and support system for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families since 1968. The games grew out of Eunice Kennedy Shriver‘s vision to create a space for children with disabilities to thrive physically, socially, and emotionally.  It is a community that strives to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. Special Olympics hosts 50,000 competitions a year – about 136 each day.

 Paige Norton of British Columbia carves a turn in a speedskating event at Special Olympics Canada’s 2012 Winter Games

Youth can be involved in the Special Olympics from the time they are eight years old but can also participate in the Young Athletes program for two through seven year olds. Athletes can also participate in the Special Olympics Unified Sports program which pairs athletes with and without disabilities to expose athletes to greater social stimulus, meaningful inclusion, and mentorship. The Special Olympics has also started Project Unify, an education -based  movement that uses sports and education programs to inspire young people to build their school communities to bring about change to garner respect, dignity, and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities. The Special Olympics also provides free health screenings and care to it’s athletes as the world’s largest public health organization for people with intellectual disabilities.

Stephanie Handojo of Indonesia is one of many Special Olympics athletes honored by carrying the Olympic torch in light of the London Summer Olympics

To support the Special Olympics, volunteer, donate, or pledge not to use the word “retard”. For more information visit the Special Olympics website.

Let your Olympic spirit guide you to live peace by cheering on all kinds of athletes.

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out!