United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on countries around the world to stop armed conflict as part of the Olympic truce, ahead of the opening of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this Friday (26).
Guterres met with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and said the Games were a chance for peace.
“I want to express the full support of the United Nations for the IOC,” Guterres said. “We live in a divided world, where conflicts are proliferating dramatically.”
“The terrible suffering in Gaza, the seemingly endless war in Ukraine, the terrible suffering from Sudan to the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), from the Sahel to Myanmar.”
“At a time like this, it is important to say that the first real peace initiative in recorded history was the Olympic truce,” he added.
During the Olympics in ancient Greece, all conflict ceased during the Games to allow the competitions to proceed.
“At a time when the Olympic Games are about to begin, it is time to remind the world of the importance of the Olympic truce and make the world understand that we have to silence the guns,” he added.
The Games begin this Friday and end on August 11 with the participation of more than 10,500 athletes representing 206 nations and territories.
This includes a Palestinian team, which, while not a full member of the United Nations, has an official national Olympic Committee, as well as athletes from Russia and Belarus, who will compete as neutrals without a flag or emblem following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“Therefore, this is the moment when my strong appeal is for countries to come together in the same spirit with which athletes will come together during the Olympic Games in Paris,” Guterres said.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
