The Olympic Truce is the ancient tradition on which the Olympic Games were first
founded in 776 BC. The Greek word for this sacred truce is "Ekecheiria" which,
etymologically, means "holding back one’s hands."

And that is how conflict and hostility is ceased - by holding back hands.

This is the power of the Olympic Truce and the Olympic Games, where the nations of the
world gather in friendly competition - impossible without peace.

Welcome to the new Olympic Truce website and the Olympic Truce Forum.

This is a place to discover everything about this ancient peace accord - its origins in
ancient Greece, its revival for modern times, and the small but significant achievements
that the Olympic Truce has inspired.

This is a place for a new generation to learn about the Olympic Truce and the spirit of
Olympism.

This is a place that offers hope for the resolution of conflict, today and in the future.

This is a place to join the thousands of leading world personalities and athletes who have
pledged their support for truce, to join humanity in a dialogue around truce - during the
Olympic Games and beyond.

This is a place to imagine peace …

Dr. Constantinos Filis
Director
International Olympic Truce Centre

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