UN / OLYMPIC TRUCE

With two weeks to go before the Winter Olympics open in Pyeongchang, South Korea, General Assembly President Miroslav Lajčák today urged countries to observe the historic tradition of ceasing hostilities ahead of the Games. UNIFEED

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:14
• Production Date: 26 January 2018
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: MIROSLAV LAJČÁK
• Corporate Name: GENERAL ASSEMBLY
• Subject Topical: OLYMPIC GAMES; OLYMPIC TRUCE
• MAMS Id: 2082419
• Parent Id: 2082419
• Alternate Title: unifeed180126d

Description

STORY: UN / OLYMPIC TRUCE
TRT: 1:14
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 26 JANUARY 2018, NEW YORK CITY

Shotlist

FILE – NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, UNHQ exterior

26 JANUARY 2018, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, General Assembly Hall
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Miroslav Lajčák, President of the General Assembly, United Nations:
“As President of the General Assembly at its 72nd session, I solemnly appeal to all Member States to demonstrate their commitment to the Olympic Truce for the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic and Paralympic Games and to undertake concrete action at the local, national, regional, and world levels to promote and strengthen a culture of peace and harmony based on the spirit of the Truce. Referring to the original tradition of the Olympic Truce practiced in ancient times as described in the resolution 72/6, I also call upon all warring parties of current armed conflicts around the world to boldly agree to true mutual ceasefires for the duration of the Olympic Truce, thus providing an opportunity to settle disputes peacefully.”
4. Wide shot, General Assembly Hall

FILE – NEW YORK CITY

5. Med shot, UN flag

Storyline

With two weeks to go before the Winter Olympics open in Pyeongchang, South Korea, General Assembly President Miroslav Lajčák today (26 Jan) urged countries to observe the historic tradition of ceasing hostilities ahead of the Games.

Lajčák called on “all warring parties of current armed conflicts around the world to boldly agree to true mutual ceasefires for the duration of the Olympic Truce, thus providing an opportunity to settle disputes peacefully.”

The symbolic Truce will start one week before the XXIII Olympic Winter Games, due to take place 9 to 25 February, and will run until a week after the closing of the XII Para-Olympic Winter Games, to be held 9 to 18 March.

The ancient Greek tradition of the ekecheiria, or Olympic Truce, was born in the eighth century BC to encourage a peaceful environment and ensure safe passage, access and participation for athletes and relevant persons at the Games, thereby mobilizing the youth of the world to the cause of peace.

The Olympic Truce was renewed in 1994, when Assembly Presidents began making a Solemn Appeal for the observance of a truce during the Winter and Summer Games.

Since 2006, the appeal was also made for the subsequent Para-Olympic Games.