Route of Truce 2022 – Sunday, May 15, 2022, for the 7th consecutive year!
The message of the 7th Route of Truce 50 km, from Ancient Ilida to Ancient Olympia
A “bridge” between the ancient and the modern, and an effort to highlight the Olympic value of the Truce—which is a prerequisite for peace—is the 50-kilometer “Route of Truce”, walked by hundreds of runners from Ancient Ilida, the city that hosted the Olympic Games in antiquity, to Ancient Olympia, the place where the Olympic Games were held and today a symbol of global sport and culture.
In this year’s 7th Route of Truce, held on Sunday, May 15, 450 runners took part, led by the legend—ultramarathon runner Mr. Giannis Kouros.
Official delegations from CISM (International Military Sports Council) participated from five countries (Greece, Lithuania, Hungary, Palestine and Saudi Arabia), while runners also took part from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Canada, Italy, England, Venezuela, Serbia, Albania and Spain.
The organizer of the Route of Truce is the Federation of Olympia, with co-organizers the Supreme Council for Sports of the Armed Forces (ASAED), the Region of Western Greece and the Municipalities of Ilida, Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia.
The Route of Truce does not have a competitive character. It is a route that essentially sends a message, highlighting that Olympic Value which leads to peace and fellowship among peoples: the Truce.
The start was at 6:00 a.m. and the runners passed through the 13 villages to Ancient Olympia, where around 16:00 the finish and the award ceremony took place, with special numbered medals presented to all runners who finished. Medals were awarded by SYRIZA Member of Parliament Mr. Dionysis Kalamatianos, the Deputy Mayors of Olympia Mr. Dim. Kostarias and of Pyrgos Mr. Giannis Argyropoulos, and the world champions in TAE KWON DO Maria Karpathaki and in Weightlifting Maria Christoforidi.
The runners passed through the villages of Dafni, Keramidia, Dafniotissa, Peristeri, Cheimadio, Sop, Karatoula, Magoula, Latzoi, Herakleia, Pournari, Pelopio, Platanos and finished in Ancient Olympia. Local associations, residents and children from the Municipal Districts where the runners stopped once again demonstrated their hospitality by offering local delicacies to the runners.
Cooperating bodies in the Federation’s activities for the 7th Route of Truce were the International Olympic Truce Center and the Czech Centre Athens. The activities were supported by the Region of Attica and #BEACTIVE and were held under the auspices of the Ministries of National Defence, Culture and Sports (General Secretariat of Sports), Rural Development and Food, Tourism, of CISM, the Hellenic Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Academy, the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO), ETHNOA, and the Union of Olympians. The activities of the Federation of Olympia also had the Technical Support of the Athens War Museum and media sponsors the Panhellenic Association of Sports Journalists (PSAT), ERT, ERT-3, Proto Programma, ERA SPOR, ERT Pyrgos, ATHINA 9.84, RunningNews.gr, OVImagazine, apopseis.gr, Greekteachers.
Warm thanks to: The Main Supporter of the events was Turbomed – Yiannis Paraskevopoulos s.a.; Official Supporters: AIGEAS AMKE, LOUX, DIRFYS, Avance Car Rental, nosti most, Hellenic Gyros, DOLE Hellas, Ethniki Asfalistiki; Suppliers–Supporters: Biolis, Agricultural Cooperative of Koryfi Ilia, Enosi Agroton Ilia IKE, FarGeco Hellas, KALOMOIRIS ILIVIGAL, Mercouri Estate.
The actions were supported on a volunteer basis by: the Volunteer Samaritans, Rescuers and Lifeguards Corps of the Regional Branch of Amaliada, E.O.PY.D., the Scouts of Ilioupoli, as well as all residents of the villages who highlighted in the best way the unique hospitality of Ilia.
For more photos from our activities, visit our Facebook page: https://web.facebook.com/routeoftruce
You can find the full Press Release HERE.
