Truce Foundation
🌍Modern Era

The Modern Revival

1992 - Present: 30+ Years of UN Solemn Appeals

17

Games with Truce

3

Observed/Neutral

14

Major Violations

The Modern Revival (1992-Present)

After the ancient Olympics were abolished in 393 AD by Emperor Theodosius I, the concept of ekecheiria fell into obscurity for over 1,500 years.

In 1992, IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch made the first public appeal for an Olympic Truce at the Barcelona Games. UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali sent a letter calling for "a truce in the former Yugoslavia, which would be the Olympic Truce of classical tradition."

The Truce was formally established by UN Resolution 48/11 on October 25, 1993, urging Member States to observe the Truce from the seventh day before the opening to the seventh day following the closing of each Olympic Games.

Key Moments

📌
1992

Modern Olympic Truce Revived at Barcelona

IOC President Samaranch appeals for Olympic Truce. UN Security Council Resolution 757 became the first SC resolution to include "sport" as a sanctioned element. Kéba Mbaye drafted legal language allowing Yugoslav athletes to compete as "Independent Olympic Participants."

📌
1993

First UN Resolution (A/RES/48/11)

On October 25, 1993, the UN General Assembly adopts Resolution 48/11 "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal" - the first GA resolution to invoke an ancient tradition in a modern peace context.

🕊️
1994

First Modern Truce Observed (Lillehammer)

Brief ceasefire in Sarajevo during Games. Samaranch led a dangerous solidarity mission to besieged Sarajevo carrying 1,500 kg of food donations. UN proclaimed 1994 as International Year of Sport.

🕊️
1995

IOC President Addresses UN

The IOC President addressed the UN General Assembly for the first time in history.

🕊️
1998

Kofi Annan's Iraq Diplomacy (Nagano)

The most significant operational use of the modern Truce. During escalating US-Iraq tensions, Annan used the Olympic Truce window to justify a diplomatic mission, negotiating a "Memorandum of Understanding" that averted imminent airstrikes.

📌
2000

IOTC Founded & Korean Unity

The International Olympic Truce Centre is officially launched at Zappeion Palace, Athens (July 24, 2000). At Sydney, North and South Korea parade together under unified flag for the first time.

📌
2012

Ban Ki-Moon Carries Olympic Flag

At London 2012 Opening Ceremony, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon carries the Olympic Flag - first time ever. Also first Games where every national team includes at least one woman.

📌
2013

International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

The UN General Assembly declares April 6 as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, celebrating the power of sport to drive social change.

✨
2016

First Refugee Olympic Team

Athletes with refugee status compete at Rio 2016 under the Olympic flag as the Refugee Olympic Team. The Olympic Truce Declaration tradition is also established by IOTC.

🕊️
2018

Unified Korean Team at PyeongChang

Teams from DPRK and Republic of Korea marched side by side at the Opening Ceremony; women's ice hockey players competed together as the first unified Olympic team. Kim Yo-jong attended - the first member of the Kim dynasty to visit South Korea since the Korean War.

📊Complete Resolution Co-Sponsor History

All Olympic Truce resolutions have been adopted by consensus. Member States show support by co-sponsoring.

EditionCo-SponsorsTotal Members%
Milano Cortina 2026Current166193
86%
Paris 2024118193
61%
Beijing 2022173193
90%
Tokyo 2020186193
96%
PyeongChang 2018157193
81%
Rio 2016180193
93%
Sochi 2014193193
100%
London 2012193193
100%
Vancouver 2010192192
100%
Beijing 2008183192
95%
Torino 2006191191
100%
Athens 2004190191
99%
Salt Lake City 2002173189
92%
Sydney 2000180188
96%
Nagano 1998178185
96%
Atlanta 1996161185
87%
Lillehammer 1994121184
66%
🌍

166 Co-Sponsors

A/80/L.10 - Milano-Cortina 2026

Adopted:November 19, 2025
Session:80th UN General Assembly
Method:Consensus (no vote)

Out of 193 UN Member States, 166 countries co-sponsored the 2026 Olympic Truce resolution - demonstrating unprecedented global unity despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Key Figures at the Adoption

Annalena BaerbockPresident of the UN General Assembly

"Urged nations to use the "moral compass" of the Truce, comparing the world to a "soccer field" where rules and fair play must prevail."

Kirsty CoventryIOC President

"Emphasized the Games offer a rare space where adversaries meet as "fellow human beings" and advocated for sport autonomy."

Giovanni MalagòMilano-Cortina 2026 President

"Framed the Italian Games as a "beacon of hope" and a "unifying event" that rises above national boundaries."

Longitudinal Record

✗
1994Winter

Lillehammer, Norway

Truce Violated
UN Resolution: A/RES/48/11
+First Games with formal Olympic Truce application
+UN proclaimed 1994 as International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal
+Former Yugoslavia allowed to participate despite ongoing wars
+IOC delegation visited Sarajevo in solidarity (1984 Winter Games host)
-Bosnian War continued - Markale massacre (68 killed) on Opening Day
-Siege of Sarajevo ongoing throughout Games
✗
1996Summer

Atlanta, USA

Truce Violated
UN Resolution: A/RES/50/13
+Resolution supported building peaceful world through sport
+Centennial Olympic Games celebrated 100 years of modern Olympics
-First Chechen War - Battle of Grozny (Aug 6-22) during Games
-Burundian Civil War - military coup July 25 during Games
✓
1998Winter

Nagano, Japan

Truce Observed
UN Resolution: A/RES/52/21
+During Persian Gulf tensions, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan invoked the Truce
+Annan stated: "I call upon all nations to observe the Olympic truce"
+Diplomatic intervention helped ease Iraq crisis during Games period
✗
2000Summer

Sydney, Australia

Truce Violated
UN Resolution: A/RES/54/34(180 co-sponsors)
+Record 180 Member States co-sponsored the resolution
+Historic moment: North and South Korea marched together under unified flag
+Symbolized hope for Korean peninsula reconciliation
-Second Intifada began September 28, 2000 during Games
-Second Chechen War operations ongoing
✗
2002Winter

Salt Lake City, USA

Truce Violated
UN Resolution: A/RES/56/75
+First Games after September 11, 2001 attacks
+US introduced modified resolution amid Afghanistan operations
-US-led Operation Anaconda (Mar 2-18) during Paralympic period
-Second Intifada - ongoing violence in Israel/Palestine
-Second Chechen War continued
✗
2004Summer

Athens, Greece

Truce Violated
UN Resolution: A/RES/58/6(190 co-sponsors)
+Unprecedented 190 UN Member States co-sponsored resolution
+Games returned to birthplace of Olympics and ancient Truce tradition
+Strongest global endorsement of Olympic Truce to date
-Iraq War continued - Battle of Najaf (Aug 5-27)
-Darfur genocide ongoing - UN declared humanitarian emergency
-Second Chechen War operations continued
✗
2006Winter

Turin, Italy

Truce Violated
UN Resolution: A/RES/60/8
+Solemn Appeal extended to Paralympic Games for first time
+Established precedent for inclusive Truce coverage
-Iraq War continued with intense sectarian violence
-Darfur conflict ongoing with continued attacks on civilians
✗
2008Summer

Beijing, China

Truce Violated
UN Resolution: A/RES/62/4
+China hosted its first Summer Olympic Games
+Symbolic moment: Russian and Georgian shooters embraced on medal podium despite active combat
-August 8 (Opening Ceremony day): Russia invades Georgia; Putin receives real-time updates from the front while attending ceremony in Bird's Nest Stadium
-~800,000 Russian troops deployed; 60 civilians killed in Gori alone on August 9
-IOC response: no sanctions against Russia
✗
2010Winter

Vancouver, Canada

Truce Violated
UN Resolution: A/RES/64/4
+Canada hosted second Winter Games (after Calgary 1988)
-Operation Moshtarak (Feb 13) - major NATO offensive in Afghanistan during Games
-War in North-West Pakistan ongoing
-Somali Civil War continued
✗
2012Summer

London, United Kingdom

Truce Violated
UN Resolution: A/RES/66/5
+UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon carried Olympic Flag at Opening Ceremony
+First time UN chief participated in Olympic ceremony
+Resolution unanimously supported by General Assembly
-Syrian Civil War intensified during Games period
✗
2014Winter

Sochi, Russia

Truce Violated
UN Resolution: A/RES/68/9
+Russia hosted its first Winter Olympic Games
-Russian annexation of Crimea (Feb 27) occurred between Olympics and Paralympics
-US and UK diplomatically boycotted Paralympics in response
✗
2016Summer

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Truce Violated
UN Resolution: A/RES/70/4
+First South American Olympics
+Refugee Olympic Team participated for first time
-Syrian Civil War continued with intense fighting in Aleppo
-Yemen - Saudi-led coalition continued military operations
✓
2018Winter

PyeongChang, South Korea

Truce Observed
UN Resolution: A/RES/72/6
+North and South Korea formed unified womens ice hockey team
+Athletes marched under unified Korean flag
+Kim Yo-jong became first member of North Korean ruling family to visit South
+Significant diplomatic thaw during heightened Korean tensions
✗
2020Summer

Tokyo, Japan

Truce Violated
UN Resolution: A/RES/74/16
+Games postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic
+First Olympics held without spectators
+Demonstrated resilience of Olympic movement
-Taliban offensive and fall of Kabul (Aug 15) during Games
-Tigray conflict escalation in Ethiopia
✗
2022Winter

Beijing, China

Truce Violated
UN Resolution: A/RES/76/13(173 co-sponsors)
+Beijing became first city to host both Summer and Winter Olympics
+173 Member States co-sponsored resolution
-Russian invasion of Ukraine (Feb 24) began between Olympics and Paralympics
-First time Olympic Truce violation was formally sanctioned
-Russia and Belarus banned from subsequent Olympic events
✗
2024Summer

Paris, France

Truce Violated
UN Resolution: A/RES/78/10(77 co-sponsors)
+100 years since Paris last hosted (1924)
+Russian and Belarusian athletes competed as Individual Neutral Athletes
+118 votes in favour, 2 abstentions for resolution
-Russia continued military operations in Ukraine throughout Truce
-Israel-Gaza conflict continued during Truce window
-Sudan civil conflict between SAF and RSF forces
-Myanmar military operations against civilian populations
○
2026Winter

Milano-Cortina, Italy

Neutral
UN Resolution: A/80/L.10(166 co-sponsors)
+Record 166 co-sponsors - highest in Olympic Truce history
+Resolution adopted by consensus on November 19, 2025
+Most gender-balanced Winter Games in history (near 50-50 participation)
+First Games with Truce Compliance Index monitoring
+Summer Youth Olympic Games in Dakar - first Olympic event in Africa

Milano-Cortina 2026

The next Olympic Truce window opens for the 2026 Winter Games in Italy. The Truce Index will track compliance in real-time.

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Sources

UN Olympic Truce|IOC Resolutions|IOTC Timeline|Full Document Archive