The Globe and Mail reports that, “The UN has traditionally passed an Olympic Truce resolution before each Summer and Winter Games since the early 1990s, echoing the practice of the ancient Greeks, who, according to legend, put aside their weapons every four years to compete peacefully at the Olympic Games of yore. The country where the Games will be staged routinely introduces the resolution.”
“Canada is due to introduce its Olympic Truce resolution at the UN General Assembly on Oct. 20.”
But “Canadian soldiers continue to fight and die in war-torn Afghanistan, and 2010 organizers (including VANOC president John Furlong) say they have no intention of asking that their country’s own troops lay down their arms for the 17 days of the Olympics.”
It does not appear that Canada will even take any initiative to ease hostilities in Afghanistan during the Olympic Games.
Instead, Canada will “bring forward (a) draft resolution entitled ‘Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal’ (that promotes) the ideals of peace, understanding and fair play within the positive atmosphere of sport. …The wording of the motion is still being worked on. Those involved include representatives of Foreign Affairs, VANOC, the IOC and the International Paralympic Committee.”
The full article is at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/olympic-truce-tradition-hard-for-canada-to-swallow/article1294202/?.
