ABOUT International Olympic Truce Centre

"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 its peaceful principles into concrete action. Our mission is to promote the Olympic Ideals, to serve peace and friendship, and to cultivate international understanding. In particular, to uphold the observance of the Olympic Truce, calling for all hostilities to cease during the Olympic Games and beyond, and to mobilize the youth worldwide in the cause of Peace. During the first years, the International Olympic Truce Centre’s absolute priority was that the Truce is respected during all Olympic Games. Since 2010, the Centre’s activities have expanded into the field of education. Most of the emphasis is put in educating the youth with the use of the power of sport, so that the Olympic Ideals can take root and flourish. It is the use of sport as a tool to instill the Olympic Values that can help the young generation gradually build a Culture of Peace.

The Centre has also developed «Hestia FC», the first football team in Greece for refugee women with less opportunities. Through this programme, sport is used as a tool for protection, empowerment, and social inclusion. Additionally, since 2019, the IOTC activities have expanded in the field of Erasmus+ Sport Projects, co-funded by the European Commission. The Centre’s wider and long-term objective is the creation and continuous promotion of the adoption of a Culture of Peace, which respects human rights."

The Vision of International Olympic Truce Centre

“To commit youth to a Culture of Peace through sport”

Culture of Peace is a set of values, attitudes, traditions and modes of behaviors and ways of life that reject violence and prevent conflicts by tackling their root causes to solve problems through dialogue and negotiation among individuals, groups and nations (United Nations, 1999).

The IOTC puts most of its emphasis in educating youth using sport as a valuable tool to promote and instill its values, so that the Olympic Ideals can take root and flourish. It is the use of sport as a tool that can instill the Olympic Values and the Olympic Truce, helping the young generation to gradually build a Culture of Peace. A Culture of Peace sustains the peaceful coexistence of humans, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or opinion."

The Mission of International Olympic Truce Centre

“To promote the Olympic ideals and the Olympic Truce by mobilizing the youth of the world in the prevention and resolution of tension through sport”.

Specifically, the Centre’s mission is to promote the Olympic ideals, having as its purpose to serve peace, friendship and international understanding, and in particular, to promote the ancient Greek tradition of 'Ekecheiria' or 'Truce' – with a symbolic dimension, calling for all hostilities to cease during the Olympic Games and beyond the period of the Olympic Games – by helping to mobilise the youth of the world in the prevention and resolution of tension through sport, culture and the Olympic ideals, and the promotion of peace generally."