The tradition of the "Truce" or "Ekecheiria" was established in ancient Greece in the 9th century BC by the signature of a treaty between three kings.

　　During the Truce period， the athletes， artists and their families， as well as ordinary pilgrims， could travel in total safety to participate in or attend the Olympic Games and return afterwards to their respective countries. As the opening of the Games approached， the sacred truce was proclaimed and announced by citizens of Elis who travelled throughout Greece to pass on the message.

　　Taking into account the global political reality in which sport and the Olympic Games exist， the International Olympic Committee （IOC） decided to revive the ancient concept of the Olympic Truce with the view to protecting， as far as possible， the interests of the athletes and sport in general， and to contribute to searching for peaceful and diplomatic solutions to the conflicts around the world.

　　重点词汇

　　truce n. 休战，休战协定

　　pilgrim n. 朝圣者

　　approach v. 接近，临近

　　International Olympic Committee n. 国际奥委会

　　revive v. 使苏醒，使复兴

　　contribute v. 贡献，捐助