The event held in the Olympic Village in Paris included athletes from NOCs whose countries are currently in conflict or war with each other.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen our founder, Pierre de Coubertin, revived the Olympic Games 130 years ago \u2013- right here in Paris \u2013- he saw it as a way to promote peace among all nations and people of the world. He was a true ambassador for peace. Today, you \u2013- the Olympic athletes \u2013- you are the peace ambassadors of our time,\u201d IOC President Thomas Bach said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYou, the Olympic athletes, will show us how our world would be if we all lived in the same Olympic spirit of peaceful co-existence. You will compete fiercely against each other. At the same time, you are living peacefully together under one roof, here in the Olympic Village. You are respecting the same rules and most importantly you are respecting each other. In this way, you are sending a resounding message of peace from Paris to the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
President Bach invited athletes to extend their call for peace: \u201cPlease share this call for peace with all your fans, your family and friends back home. In this way, our many voices will become one. This one voice will resonate all around the globe. May this call inspire all the political leaders of the world to take action for peace.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He concluded: \u201cTogether we say: Give Peace a Chance!\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On the occasion, the Paris 2024 Olympic Truce Mural was inaugurated in the presence of the IOC President; the Paris 2024 Organising Committee President, Tony Estanguet; Masomah Ali Zada, Chef de Mission for the IOC Refugee Olympic Team for Paris 2024; Emma Terho, Chair of the IOC Athletes\u2019 Commission (AC); and the entire Executive Board of the IOC. Together with the athletes representing all five continents, they signed the Olympic Truce Mural.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIn this Village, there is a symbol within the symbol: it\u2019s the Olympic Truce Mural,\u201d said President Tony Estanguet. \u201cIt is the place of gathering and encounters, the place of sharing and peace. It reminds us of the message as humble as it is crucial: the Games cannot change everything, but they can carry something very strong, with the strength of example. An example of peace, solidarity, and progress. An example we value and need more than ever in those troubled times\u201d, he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Olympic Truce Mural has been a feature of every Olympic Village since the Olympic Winter Games Turin 2006, serving as a powerful symbol of sport\u2019s ability to promote peace, and offering a unique opportunity for athletes from around the world to show their support for the values of peace, respect, solidarity, inclusion and equality. Each edition of the recent Olympic Games has a uniquely designed mural in the Athletes\u2019 Village that features signatures from thousands of athletes, coaches and team officials, calling for peace and showing their support for the Olympic Truce.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The tradition of the \u201cOlympic Truce\u201d, or \u201cEkecheiria\u201d, was established in Ancient Greece to allow safe participation in the ancient Olympic Games for all athletes and spectators.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Olympic Truce Mural has been a feature of every Olympic Village since the Olympic Winter Games Turin 2006, serving as a powerful symbol of sport\u2019s ability to promote peace, and offering a unique opportunity for athletes from around the world to show their support for the values of peace, respect, solidarity, inclusion and equality. Each edition of the recent Olympic Games has a uniquely designed mural in the Athletes\u2019 Village that features signatures from thousands of athletes, coaches and team officials, calling for peace and showing their support for the Olympic Truce.<\/p>\r\n\r\n