Olympics


 * [[image:olympic_rings.jpg]] The Olympics!! [[image:olympic_rings.jpg]]

By: Kaylee Searle



__Primary Source:__**
 * Promoting world peace through the Olympic spirit**
 * COMMENT BY RAJES PAUL**

THOUSANDS of years ago, warring countries would stop fighting for a month – and take part instead in the Ancient Olympic Games. They observed a truce – a pledge made to the Greek Gods then – to put aside their differences and hatred so that thousands could come together in the name of sport to watch naked men battle for honour and fame at the foot of Mount Olympus. It was significant then that sports delegates from all over the world gathered at ancient Olympia last month for the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) international forum on //Sport for Peace and the Olympic Truce.// Dr Jacques Rogge, the IOC president, was quick to admit that sport cannot impose peace but said: "It might inspire it. Through the Olympic spirit, we can instill brotherhood, respect, fair play, gender equality and even combat doping. Rogge, who is also president of the International Olympic Truce Foundation (IOTF), knows the power of sport as a tool for peace. At the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympic Games, North and South Korea marched together under one flag; and arch rivals India and Pakistan held friendly cricket matches to restore their strained relationships. In Congo, Liberia, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Somalia, sports activities in partnerships with IOC and United Nations have served as starting points in developing the war-torn and poverty-stricken countries. Despite an agonising 14 years of ethnic strife, Burundi came together as one when Venuste Niyongabo won the country's first Olympic gold medal in the 5,000m event at the 1996 Atlanta Games. But the delegates agreed that more could be done through sports – especially in teaching the Olympic values of respect, fair play, tolerance and friendship. The theme "One world, One dream"; its selection of songs, sculptures; mascot; torch run programme; are all related to peace. In fact, China also plans to host a "Green Olympics" by ensuring "peace" between man and nature. "We have created a World Peace Wall and also named one of our roads Peace Avenue. Our dream at the Olympics is to play sports in a harmonious way." We do not have to wait for every four years and the Olympic Games to promote peace through sport. We can end all "wars" now and live in peace. All we need is sports and the Olympic spirit.