The Olympic Village in PyeongChang unveils the Olympic Truce Mural, created by South Korean artist Jaeseok Lee
The mural was inaugurated on 5 February by the IOC Executive Board, the IOC Athletes’ Commission, the PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of South Korea.
The Olympic Truce dates back to Ancient Greece, where 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.
Since the Olympic Winter Games Turin 2006, the Truce has been represented by a Mural, and athletes and officials who take part in the Games are invited to sign it, inspiring peace through sport.
The Olympic Truce Mural of PyeongChang 2018 was unveiled today, 5 February, at the Olympic Village Plaza. IOC President Thomas Bach attended the ceremony together with Lee Hee-Beom, President of the Organising Committee for the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 (POCOG); Angela Ruggiero, Chair of the Athletes’ Commission; Ryu Seung-min, Mayor of the PyeongChang Olympic Village; Gunilla Lindberg, Chair of the Coordination Commission for the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games; and Do Jong-Hwan, Minister of Sport and Tourism of South Korea. Pur Yiech Biel, a member of the Rio 2016 Refugee Olympic Team, as well as representatives from several National Olympic Committees, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, were among those who added their signatures to the mural in a symbolic and strong gesture.
More than ever, the world needs the Olympic values of peace and friendship.
Thomas Bach
IOC PRESIDENT
"Given the special circumstances, the time and place of these Olympic Winter Games, it should be clear for everyone why this Olympic Truce is as relevant today as it was in ancient times. More than ever, the world needs the Olympic values of peace and friendship,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.
POCOG President Lee Hee-Beom said: “the Olympic Truce mural serves to build bridges in the current fragile world. This is one of the good reasons why the Republic of Korea is welcoming not only the global Olympic family but also media, spectators and visitors from around the world towards building bridges through the Games.”
The mural was produced by Jaeseok Lee, a young Korean artist who is known for his striking visual designs to convey powerful messages. A graduate of the New York School of Visual Arts, he has worked on numerous projects to raise awareness of social issues through artistic installations.
Following the Games, the Truce mural will then be moved to the PyeongChang Olympic Plaza as well as Gangneung Olympic Park as a lasting legacy of the Olympic Winter Games for peace.
On 13 November 2017, the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic Ideal” by consensus. The consensus for the Olympic Truce resolution included both the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, as well as the future hosts of the Olympic Games: Japan, China, France and the United States of America.
The resolution calls on the nations of the world to uphold the Olympic Truce from seven days before the start of the Olympic Games in February 2018 until seven days after the Paralympic Games.
This is an opportunity to recognise the power of sport to bring the world together in peaceful competition and create opportunities for dialogue and reconciliation.