U.N. urges truce during Winter Olympics in Beijing in February

China’s U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun introduced the resolution, saying it had 173 co-sponsors and “sends a powerful message of unity and cooperation to overcome the pandemic.”

The U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday urged all nations to observe a truce during the Beijing Winter Olympics starting in February, saying a halt to conflicts during one of the world’s premiere sporting events can be “a tool to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation.”

A resolution adopted by consensus by the 193-nation world body recalled the ancient Greek tradition of ekecheiria, calling for an “Olympic Truce,” to encourage a peaceful environment and ensure safe passage and participation of athletes in the games, “thereby mobilizing the youth of the world to the cause of peace.”

The resolution “urges members states to observe the Olympic Truce, individually and collectively” from the week before the start of the 24th winter Olympic games in Beijing until the week after the Paralympics. The Olympics run from February 4-20 next year followed by the Paralympics from March 4-13.