776 BC
Οlympic Truce is adopted for the first time, followed by the inauguration of the first Olympic Games of antiquity, which took place in Olympia, Greece.
1894
The International Olympic Committee is established, with the aim of building a better world through sport.
1896
The first modern Olympic Games are organized in Athens, Greece.
1936
The Afro-American athlete Jesse Owens wins the Gold Medal in long jump at the Olympic Games in Berlin, thanks to the encouragement and advice of his main opponent, the German, Luz Long. The two athletes remain friends until the end of their lives.
1992
The International Olympic Committee makes an appeal for the observance of the Olympic Truce and negotiates with the United Nations to allow athletes of the Former Republic of Yugoslavia to participate in the Games of the XXIII Olympiad in Barcelona under the Olympic flag.
1993
The first resolution on the observance of the Olympic Truce was adopted by the 48th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Since then, the UN General Assemblyy unanimously adopts every two years, one year before each edition of the Olympic Games, a resolution entitled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal”.
1994
The Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway, revive hope in conflict-torn Sarajevo. After coordinated diplomatic efforts, it becomes possible for athletes coming from former Yugoslavia to take part in the Games. The Olympic Truce is observed for the first time in the modern history of the Olympic Games. The United Nations renounces 1994 International year of Sports and Olympic Ideal.
1995
The resolution of the 50th Session of the United Nations General Assembly supports the idea of building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic Ideal, and invites all Member States to uphold the Olympic Truce during the Games of the XXVI Olympiad in Atlanta, USA.
1997
The 52nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopts a resolution for the observance of the Olympic Truce during the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan in 1998.
1998
During the Nagano Winter Olympic Games, tensions in the Persian Gulf region are high. The observance of the Olympic Truce according to United Nations resolutions, offers the opportunity to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to intervene and seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Iraq.
1999
180 United Nations Member States sign the resolution in support of the observance of the Olympic Truce during the XXVII Olympiad in Sydney, Australia.
2000
The International Olympic Truce Centre is founded by the International Olympic Committee.
The United Nations Millennium Summit, which is held in New York from 6 to 8 September with the participation of more than 150 Heads of State, adopts the Millennium Declaration that includes a special paragraph on the observance of the Olympic Truce.
North and South Korean delegations parade together under the flag of the Korean peninsula, during the Opening Ceremony of the XXVII Olympic Games in Sydney.
2001
The 56th Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopts a resolution on the Olympic Truce in preparation for the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.
2002
The collection of signatures by international personalities in support of the Olympic Truce is launched in Ancient Olympia, during the lighting of the Olympic Flame for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games. The call is supported by hundreds of dignitaries, including Heads of State, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, religious leaders, heads of international organizations, athletes, Olympic Movement officials, leaders in the fields of business, literature and arts.
2003
The nations of the world unanimously urge humanity to celebrate in peace the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad in Athens, though the adoption of the Olympic Truce resolution supported by 190 UN Member States, a number unprecedented in UN history.
2004
The Games of the XXVIII Olympiad take place in August in Athens where the Olympic Games and Olympic Truce were born. A specially constructed signature wall is set up where athletes and leaders from around the world declare their support of the Olympic Truce. The tradition of the signature wall during the Olympic Games has continued ever since.
2005
The nations of the world commit themselves, again, to respect the ancient tradition during the Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, in 2006. At the 60th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Olympic Truce resolution was adopted.
2006
The XX Winter Olympic Games take place in February in Torino, Italy.
2007
The 62nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopts a resolution on the Olympic Truce in preparation for the Olympic Games in Beijing.
2008
The Games of the XXVIV Olympiad take place in August in Beijing, China.
A wall of signatures for the Truce is placed in the Olympic Village, and is preserved as part of the heritage of the Olympic Games in the Olympic Museum.
2009
The 64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopts a resolution on the Olympic Truce in preparation for the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver.
2010
The XXI Winter Olympic Games take place in February in Vancouver, Canada. Walls for signatures in favour of Olympic Truce are placed within the Olympic Village.
2011
The 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly unanimously supports a resolution on the Olympic Truce in preparation for the Olympic Games in London.
2012
The IOTC participates at the handover ceremony of the Olympic Flame at the Panathenaic Stadium of Athens, when children wearing IOTC t-shirts, release doves, sending a strong message for peace and international understanding.
On April 22, Lord Michael Bates sets out on a 5,600 kilometre (3,500 miles) journey from Olympia, birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games, to London, host city for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games …on foot. His aim is to highlight the opportunity to bring the ancient peace accord called Olympic Truce into reality at the London Games.
During the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games the Olympic Truce flag is flying with pride and respect at the Peace Palace in the Hague.
At the Opening Ceremony the whole world sees the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon carrying with pride the Olympic Flag. The Secretary General also participates at the LOCOG torch relay.
For the first time ever in the Olympic Games’ history every national team includes at least one woman, demonstrating the principles of equality, diversity, inclusion and freedom of participation.
Signature walls are located in the Olympic Village.
The new video created by the IOTC for the promotion of Olympism and Truce is on display at the IOC corner in the Olympic Village and is distributed to all athletes and officials through the IOC Info Kit.
2013
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly declares the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. Since 2014, that it was first celebrated, the 6th April is an annual celebration of the power of sport to drive social change, community development and to foster peace and understanding.
2015
Recognizing the potential of sport as a valuable tool in the achievement of peace and development, the UN General Assembly adopts a resolution prior to Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games reaffirming its commitment to promote dialogue and reconciliation in areas of conflict during and after the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
2016
Τhe signing of the Olympic Truce Declaration gets established, as a joint effort of the International Olympic Truce Centre and the Municipalities of Ancient Olympia, Ilida and Sparta, to further strengthen the Olympic Games’ message for peace. Read the Declaration here.
Highest qualified athletes with refugee status participate in the XXXI Olympic Games of Rio de Janeiro. Athletes left without a home country and a National Olympic Committee to represent, form the Refugee Olympic Team and use the Olympic flag and the Olympic anthem, instead of national symbols. The Olympic Games of Rio showcase sport as a key tool for peace, social inclusion and tolerance, in the fight against racial, ethnic and gender discrimination.
2017
In a strong sign of confidence in the XXIII Winter Olympic Games of PyeongChang, the UN General Assembly adopts the resolution “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic Ideal” by consensus.
Prominent figures of the Olympic Movement sign the Olympic Truce Declaration in Ancient Olympia Greece, at the time of the Olympic Flame lighting for the XXIII Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. This is an ongoing effort for international recognition for Olympic Truce and for the need for world peace during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, creating the conditions for expansion of this condition beyond them. Read the Declaration here
2018
The XXIII Winter Olympic Games take place in PyeongChang in South Korea. North Korea agrees to participate in the Games despite their tense relations with the Organizers; In a celebration of unity and the Olympic spirit, the athletes of the two countries march side by side at the Opening Ceremony and field a unified team (COR) in women’s ice hockey.
2019
The UN General Assembly approves Resolution in the light of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and reiterates that the Olympic Games are an opportunity to show that sport has the power to change the world and our future.
2020
Prominent members of the Olympic Movement, EU and State officials sign the Olympic Truce Declaration in the light of the XXXII Tokyo Summer Olympic Games. Read the Declaration here.
