Imagine peace ...

These might have been the thoughts of King Ifitos of Elis as he consulted the oracle at Delphi, seeking to put an end to the endless wars between the rival Greek city states.

As myth has it, Ifitos was advised at Delphi to break the cycle of conflict by replacing war with friendly athletic competition every four years. He sought the cooperation of Kings Lykourgos of Sparta and Cleosthenes of Pisa. They agree to a truce called “ekecheiria” and revive the Olympic Games at Olympia in 776 BC.

Fighting ceased for seven days before until seven days after the Games, allowing athletes, artists and spectators to travel to Olympia, participate in the Olympic Games, and return to their homelands in peace.

It was through these early Games that the ancient tradition of the Olympic Truce was born.