Greek Culture Minister George Voulgarakis underlined the role of
the Olympic Truce to the idea of the Olympic Games on Saturday at
an international forum on the Olympic Truce which took place in
ancient Olympia of Greece, according to Athens News Agency.
Voulgarakis said that the forum helped to revive the overall
idea of the Olympic Games and bring the truce back to the
forefront.
He said the importance of the effort for an Olympic Truce was
that it combined the strength of the Olympic Movement with the
desire of younger generations to work together for peace.
The forum was also addressed by Tourism Development Minister and
vice-president of the International Olympic Truce Foundation Fani
Palli-Petralia, who underlined that the Olympic Truce was an
institution that had achieved many things in the 15 years since it
was revived.
"It is indicative that during the Olympic Games in Athens, enemy
armies and groups of conflict throughout the world show through
their stance -- and some through their statements -- that they
respected the idea of the Olympic Truce but also Greece itself,"
Petralia said.
The Beijing Olympics would be another opportunity to reinforce
the ideal of the Olympic Truce, she added.
The "International Forum on Sport for Peace and the Olympic
Truce" is now undergoing at Olympia from May 17 until May 21.
(Xinhua News Agency May 21, 2007)