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)