Page 55 - Coespu Magazine 2018-2

Sport the best Peacemaker

I really think that sport may offer a framework in which to approach world peace differently. On top of that, sport is
generally seen as a fun and engaging activity that has both wide appeal and a range of benefits, from physical fitness
to socialisation.
It helps people get active, it gives kids and
adults new freedom and brings them together,
it provides options and allows people to move
up the social tree. But most of all: sport is a
method of interacting that everyone can
engage in and understand each other. And this
“miracle” may happen at a leisure sport or as
high level competition, on account of the
important role that it can play in promoting
social inclusion, equal opportunities and
health-enhancing physical activity.
Since ancient times and regardless of age,
gender or ethnicity, sport has been enjoyed by
everybody. To gain a better understand of this claim, just think to the Olympic Games.
The ancient Olympic Games (in ancient Greek: Ὀλύμπια, i.e. Olympia, “the Olympics”; also Ὀλυμπιάς, Olympias,
“the Olympiad”), were a series of athletic competitions among representatives of city-states and one of the
Panhellenic Games of ancient Greece. They were held in honor of Zeus, and the Greeks gave them a mythological
origin. The first Olympics is traditionally dated to 776 BC. The games, or Olympiad, were held every four years, a
period which became a unit of time in historical chronologies.
During the celebration of the games, an Olympic Truce was enacted so that athletes could travel from their cities to
the games in safety. Nevertheless, the games were a powerful tool used by city-states to manage political as well as
religious disputes.
In particular, the tradition of the Olympic Truce dates back to the reign of Iphitos, King of Elis, who was intent on
breaking the incessant cycle of armed conflict that beset Ancient Greece in the ninth century BC.
According to the legend, he sought the counsel of the oracle of Delphi, who advised him to found a peaceful sporting
competition, which would become none other
than the Olympic Games.
Iphitos had the support of fellow monarchs
Cleisthenes of Pisa and Lycurgus of Sparta,
and signed a truce with them known as the
“Ekecheira”. As a result of this accord, all
regional conflict came to an end every four
years to allow the Games to take place.
Beginning seven days before the Olympic
Games got under way and ending seven days
after them, the Truce allowed athletes, artists,
their families and ordinary pilgrims to travel
in total safety in order to participate in or
attend the Games and to then return home afterwards. Behind the ruse of the Olympic Truce, there actually was

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