The Olympic Truce Resolution for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games was adopted at the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The resolution – entitled “Sport for Peace and Development: Building a Peaceful and Better World through Sport and the Olympic Ideal” – was formally submitted to the General Assembly on behalf of the Olympic Movement and the PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee by the Republic of Korea. It calls for a truce during the Olympic Games to encourage a peaceful environment and ensure safe passage, access and participation for athletes and relevant persons at the Games.
Speaking to the world Assembly, POCOG President LEE Hee-beom said, “The Olympic Truce is about the promotion of peace through sport. “We, Koreans, still remember vividly the wonderful 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. It provided a good opportunity to bring the East and West together, in Seoul, through the Games for peace, harmony and reconciliation. “We hope our joint actions today will lead to a chain reaction for the promotion of peace within the region and beyond. Together we are more powerful than any one of us working alone”.
Following POCOG President LEE Hee-beom’s address to the Assembly, Games Honorary Ambassador and Olympic gold medalist KIM Yuna spoke to the General Assembly sharing her experiences of being an athlete and the power that sport has in bringing nations together. She said, “I first experienced the Olympic spirit when I was 10 years old watching the two Korean delegations walk into the Olympic Stadium together in Sydney. “I firmly believe that the PyeongChang 2018 Games will help spread the message of peace and I am proud to be here today to help tell the world about our vision".
The delegation of the Republic of Korea was joined by three students from Hyun Pung High School in Daegu, who were selected from the winning team of a ‘Peace through Sport’ speech contest earlier this year. Republic of Korea national Para Ice Hockey athlete and Games Ambassador JUNG Seung-hwan also showed his support by joining the historical moment at the UN General Assembly. A special PyeongChang reception will take place this evening at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea in New York to mark the occasion with the International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach set to attend the event. He also spoke today at the UN General Assembly and said, “For the athletes that will gather in PyeongChang for the Olympic Winter Games, this resolution will carry a special significance, a deeply personal one. With the Olympic Truce resolution, the United Nation General Assembly is creating the conditions for all athletes to compete in peace. Only the UN Member States can guarantee the athletes a safe passage to the Olympic Games. They make it possible for all the Olympic athletes to realize their dream of a lifetime".
He continued, “The Olympic athletes show the whole world that it is possible to compete with each other while living peacefully together under one roof at the same time". The message of peace and passion for the PyeongChang 2018 Games continues to travel across the host country as the Olympic Torch Relay is now 13 days into its 101-day journey to the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium. Celebrating ‘achievers’ and ‘dreamers’ along the way, the 7,500 torchbearers will carry the flame over 2,018km and help raise the excitement and enthusiasm for what will be the greatest celebration of winter sports and culture that Korea has ever seen.