UN General Assembly President appeals for States to observe Olympic Truce by Julian Hunte United Nations 8:43am 3rd Aug, 2004   4th August 2004    With less than 10 days to go before the start of the Olympic Games, the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Julian R. Hunte, today appealed to all States to demonstrate their commitment to peace by observing the traditional truce during the quadrennial competition.    "While conflicts in the world will not cease overnight, if we could have peace for 16 days, then, maybe, just maybe, we could have it forever," Mr. Hunte said in a statement. The XXVIII Olympic Games are set to open on 13 August in Athens, where the first modern competition was revived in 1896.    Mr. Hunte noted that the sacred Greek tradition of ekecheiria (truce) was the cornerstone of the Olympic Games in ancient times, providing safety and a peaceful environment for both athletes and spectators alike. "Its very adoption was dictated by the oracle of Delphi as a way to put an end to the wars that at the time devastated the Peloponnese. The longest lasting peace accord in history was thus created," he said.    "In times of violence and uncertainty, of war and struggle, when security becomes a pressing concern, we must always remember that defensive mechanisms need to be paralleled by resolute efforts to promote dialogue and understanding among peoples and governments and to adhere to the ideas for which the Olympic Truce stands," the General Assembly President said.    Following is the text of a message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the “Celebrate Humanity” Campaign by the International Olympic Committee: "The greatest moment of a swimming race is not when one swimmer begins to pull ahead of the pack, or when one touches the wall in victory. The greatest moment takes place before the starting pistol fires -- the moment when no nation is greater or smaller, or stronger or weaker, than any other. For me, that is the Olympic Moment".
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