The U.N. General Assembly has adopted the Olympic truce resolution for the 2008 Beijing Games. The resolution, a form of which has been passed before every Olympics since the early 1990s, calls upon the 182 U.N. member states to ‘observe and promote peace during and beyond’ next August’s Games.

In doing so it ignored the assorted protest groups. For example, the Free Tibet Campaign sent a letter to the British government highlighting ‘the glaring discrepancy between China’s appalling human rights record in China and Tibet and the Spirit of the Olympic Truce’.

Mark you, before the Australian Olympics, a similar letter was sent quite rightly bagging the Australian government for its treatment of the country’s aborigines.

Olympic chief Jacques Rogge, seen here, in a speech to the United Nations before the resolution was passed, reiterated his view that engaging with China by holding the sporting spectacle in Beijing would have long-term benefits for the whole world.

This seems to be the general view of the Olympic committee wherever the games are to be held. And it is worth noting that Australia seriously started to get its act together on ways of dealing with aborigines after the Olympic Games.

Jacques Rogge said, ‘In China, the Beijing 2008 Summer Games have already delivered important social, legislative and economic benefits. It is better to open a new door to China than to leave it closed at this point in its modern evolution.’

The Olympic truce concept goes back to Ancient Greece when warring parties were called on to lay down their arms while their athletes competed.

Top Beijing Games organizer Liu Qi, who is also head of the city’s Communist Party, brushed off any worries about protests or other disruptions in welcoming the U.N. resolution.

Liu Qi said, ‘Beijing 2008 is heartened by the overwhelming support and endorsement given to the Olympic truce by the international community at the United Nations.

‘Their solidarity reinforces the global desire for peace and a cessation of all acts of hostilities during the Olympic period.’
Source: Reuters