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The ancient Olympic truce
A truce (in Greek, ekecheiria, which literally means "holding of hands") was established in ancient Greece in the 9th century BC by the signature of a treaty between three kings, Iphitos of Elis, Cleosthenes of Pisa and Lycurgus of Sparta. The other Greek city-states subsequently ratified this "international agreement", thanks to which the permanent and recognized immunity of the sanctuary at Olympia and the region of Elis became a reality. Moreover, during the period of the Truce, the athletes, artists and their families, as well as ordinary pilgrims, could travel in total safety to participate in or attend the Olympic Games and return afterwards to their respective countries. As the opening of the Games approached, the SACRED TRUCE was proclaimed and announced by the "Spondophoroi", citizens of Elis who traveled throughout the Greek world from city-state to city-state to pass on the message.
An inscription describing the truce was written on a bronze discus which was displayed at Olympia. During the truce, wars were suspended, armies were prohibited from entering Elis or threatening the Games, and legal disputes and the carrying out of death penalties were forbidden.
The Olympic truce was faithfully observed, for the most part, although the historian Thucydides recounts that the Lacedaemonians were banned from participating in the Games, after they attacked a fortress in Lepreum, a town in Elis, during the truce. The Lacedaemonians complained that the truce had not yet been announced at the time of their attack. But the Eleans fined them two thousand minae, two for each soldier, as the law required.
A mina was equivalent to 100 drachmas, and one drachma was an average worker's daily wage, or the price of a sheep. Thus, the fine was a heavy one, equal to 200,000 drachmas.
Thucydides text:
"At the Olympic games which were held this summer, and in which the Arcadian Androsthenes was victor the first time in the wrestling and boxing, the Lacedaemonians were excluded from the temple by the Eleans, and thus prevented from sacrificing or contending, for having refused to pay the fine specified in the Olympic law imposed upon them by the Eleans, who alleged that they had attacked Fort Phyrcus, and sent heavy infantry of theirs into Lepreum during the Olympic truce. The amount of the fine was two thousand minae, two for each heavy-armed soldier, as the law prescribes. The Lacedaemonians sent envoys, and pleaded that the imposition was unjust; saying that the truce had not yet been proclaimed at Lacedaemon when the heavy infantry were sent off. But the Eleans affirmed that the armistice with them had already begun (they proclaim it first among themselves), and that the aggression of the Lacedaemonians had taken them by surprise while they were living quietly as in time of peace, and not expecting anything. Upon this the Lacedaemonians submitted, that if the Eleans really believed that they had committed an aggression, it was useless after that to proclaim the truce at Lacedaemon; but they had proclaimed it notwithstanding, as believing nothing of the kind, and from that moment the Lacedaemonians had made no attack upon their country. Nevertheless the Eleans adhered to what they had said, that nothing would persuade them that an aggression had not been committed; if, however, the Lacedaemonians would restore Lepreum, they would give up their own share of the money and pay that of the god for them".
The Olympic Truce today
Taking into account the global political reality in which sport and the Olympic Games exist, the IOC decided to revive the ancient concept of the Olympic Truce during the Olympic Games. The Olympic Truce aims to protect, as far as possible, the interests of the athletes and sport in general and to contribute to the search for diplomatic solutions to the various conflicts around the world.
The Olympic Games have shown that friendship, solidarity and cooperation between nations are possible, provided there is a will to achieve them. In this framework, the Olympic Truce can serve as a basis for numerous initiatives aimed at finding diplomatic and peaceful solutions to the conflicts which confront our society.
However, there is no doubt that the Truce may extend beyond the period of the Olympic Games by acting through sport, which is practiced daily throughout the world, to strengthen understanding and cooperation between all individuals.
The international dimension of sports events has the power to abolish boundaries, thus promoting unity and peace. Of course, it would be simplistic to think that practicing sport is the same as working for peace. Notwithstanding its strategic implications, the role of diplomacy is also to strengthen international understanding, promote dialogue and express the different interests involved. In this sense, sport and diplomacy share the same goals.
Through the Olympic Truce, the IOC is pleased not just to have given concrete form to the fundamental principles contained in the Olympic Charter, but also to have mobilized the political world in support of this important project. The IOC believes that it has a duty to propose and ensure respect for the Olympic Truce, in the hope that it will serve as a means of dialogue and reconciliation.
Nikolaos K. Vassiliades
President of the Hellenic Committee ‘Pierre de Coubertin’,
Member of the Education Department of the ‘Organizing Committee for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games’
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