WI Olympic Truce had been part of the Modern Games?

[Legend-in-Exile]

"A truce (in Greek, ekecheiria, which literally means "holding of hands") was announced before and during each of the Olympic festivals, to allow visitors to travel safely to Olympia. An inscription describing the truce was written on a bronze discus which was displayed at Olympia. During the truce, wars were suspended, armies were prohibited from entering Elis or threatening the Games, and legal disputes and the carrying out of death penalties were forbidden."
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/truce.html

Would such an agreement have been feasible with the modern Olympics?Especially given the lack of religious context of the modern games (as fear of divine retribution was a large factor in the keeping of the ancient truce.)?

If the IOC were able to suspend members for breaking such a truce and levy fines, as occured in the ancient olympics, would that put off prospective competing nations?

Would the Olympics become a venue for peace talks etc?

Would such a truce be a positive thing or should politics and the olympics remain (somewhat) seperated?

 

[Tallest Skil]

When the argument against it is as simple as

“Why should we stop killing [mortal enemy] for some stupid game with [mortal enemy]? No, we’re not paying your ‘fine’ for disagreeing. Who do you think you are?”

the idea breaks down.

 

[Legend-in-Exile]

When the argument against it is as simple as

“Why should we stop killing [mortal enemy] for some stupid game with [mortal enemy]? No, we’re not paying your ‘fine’ for disagreeing. Who do you think you are?”

the idea breaks down.

Loss of prestige may help, being treated like a pariah state by members would too.

You are probably right though. Without Zeus and his lightning bolts the whole concept lacks punch.

 

[LeCHVCK]

The Truce was not in all of Greece just near Olympia and it was disallowed to har,m the athletes. It won't work today. Why would the Nazi's say oh you are an Olympic and a Jew of course you can go to the Olympal Games 1940 ( I know there was none but in this case they would still make it happen) I don't know where the Olympic games 1944 where supposed to happen but if it is in Moscow German athletes in Moscow 1944. Impossible. Yes I used only Nazi Comparisons but it fits for every war and every ethnic groups who are supressed by others.

 

[Legend-in-Exile]

In 1998, the International Olympic Committee renewed this tradition by calling upon all nations to observe the Truce and the The Olympic Truce was revived by UN resolution 48/11 of 25 October 1993,[2] as well by the United Nations Millennium Declaration relating to the world peace and security.[3]
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_truce

So we have a watered down version.

What would it take to get one with teeth? Two weeks every four years where the majority of humans agree war is suspended doesn't seem completely asb to me. Though perhaps I'm just naïve?

 

[HonestAbe]

It breaks down when applied to asymmetric warfare. AQ/Taliban/ISIS to name just some contemporary examples, aren't gonna stop fighting just because it would be considered impolite, and counter insurgent forces can't stop as long as the insurgents don't. Combine that with the tendency to use the existence of partisans and paramilitaries to paint all wars as counterterrorism (looking at you Putin) and you have a recipe for failure.

 

[Legend-in-Exile]

It breaks down when applied to asymmetric warfare. AQ/Taliban/ISIS to name just some contemporary examples, aren't gonna stop fighting just because it would be considered impolite, and counter insurgent forces can't stop as long as the insurgents don't. Combine that with the tendency to use the existence of partisans and paramilitaries to paint all wars as counterterrorism (looking at you Putin) and you have a recipe for failure.

I considered groups along those lines, but they also wouldn't be sending delegations to the games or be applying for membership of the ioc and therefore would not be covered by the truce. I think it's fairly obvious that even were such a truce in place there would be no proscription against defending yourself from attack - very much like any other truce.

I envisioned a scenario where the peace was originally held by the great powers competing at the games and became such an ingrained concept of the olympics that all participants would be shocked and appalled by anyone contravening the truce. Maybe I need to have the games start much earlier and be more religious so the precedent is set.

 

[Lemon flavoured]

Somewhat related, but I sometimes wonder if the 2008 Russia / Georgia war might have been worse had it not started (and ended) during the Olympics.