Who we are
The International Olympic Truce Centre was established in July 2000 as a joint initiative of Greece and the International Olympic Committee, turning the commitment of the Olympic Movement to promote the principle of Peace into concrete action. The initiative first took form in 1998, with a proposal from the Greek Government to the members of the International Olympic Committee for the institutional revival of Olympic Truce in the new millennium. In December 1999, in a historic decision taken in cooperation with Greece, the International Olympic Committee announced the establishment of the International Olympic Truce Centre. The commitment to the Olympic Truce gained further impetus with the promotion of the concept worldwide through the torch relay that took place prior to the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
Establishment
The International Olympic Truce Centre (IOTC) was established in July 2000, following a joint initiative by Greece and the International Olympic Committee, turning the Olympic Movement’s commitment to promoting the principles of peace into tangible action. The initiative first took shape in 1998, at the suggestion of the Greek government to the members of the International Olympic Committee, for the institutional revival of the Olympic Truce in the new millennium. In a historic decision in December 1999, the International Olympic Committee announced the establishment of the International Olympic Truce Centre, in cooperation with Greece. The commitment to the Olympic Games gained new impetus, with the warming and promotion of the concept worldwide through the torch race that took place during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
Organizational Framework
The International Olympic Truce Centre is a member of the Olympic Movement. It is administered by a Board of Directors consisting of distinguished personalities from all over the world. Chairman of the Board is Dr. Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee. The Vice Presidents are Mr. George A. Papandreou, former Prime Minister of Greece and Mrs Fanny Palli-Petralia, former Minister of Tourism and former Minister of Employment and Social Protection in Greece. Dr. Constantinos Filis is the Director of the International Olympic Truce Centre.
Seat
The symbolic seat of the International Olympic Truce Centre is Olympia, the birthplace of Olympism and the Olympic Games. The legal and statutory seat, as well as the Centre’s liaison office, is Lausanne, where the International Olympic Committee is based. Athens, host city of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and host city of the 2004 Summer Olympic Games, hosts the Centre’s administrative headquarters.
Mission
The mission of the International Olympic Truce Centre is to promote the Olympic Ideals, to serve peace and friendship and to cultivate international understanding. More specifically, the IOTC aims to uphold the observance of Olympic Truce, calling for all hostilities to cease during the Olympic Games and beyond. Adherence to the Olympic Truce requires the awakening of consciences, the encouragement of leaders for action, the mobilization for the promotion of the Olympic Ideal and the education of young people according to the principles of Olympism. Its broader and long-term goal is to create and continuously promote a Culture of Peace, based on respect for human rights. To achieve this goal, the International Olympic Truce Centre conducts programmes and activities in collaboration with:
- Institutions of the Olympic Family
- International and National Organizations
- NGOs
- Private Initiatives and Institutions
The mobilization of the new generation worldwide, in favor of Peace is a required precondition to the goal’s achievement. In recent years, the activities of the IOTC have been extended/expanded to the field of education, through educational and European programmes. Greater emphasis is placed upon educating and alerting/sensitizing the youth through sport’s powerful force, so that the Olympic Ideals can succeed in taking roots and flourishing. Sport, as a tool for strengthening respect for the Olympic Values, can contribute to the gradual building of a Culture of Peace by the new generation.
The Four Pillars
The work of the International Olympic Truce Centre is based on four fundamental pillars.
- Communication
- Dialogue and Discussion
- Education
- Promoting Olympic Truce
Each of these pillars reflects a different strategy and focusses on different actions and initiatives, which, in the long run, contribute to the achievement of the ultimate goal. Following the spirit of Olympism, these four pillars welcome the participation of all people of the world.
