ROUTE OF TRUCE 2023 – Sunday, May 7, 2023, for the 8th consecutive year!
Ilida–Olympia: Route of Truce 2023 (50 km)
For the 8th consecutive year, the Route of Truce 2023 was successfully held on Sunday with international participation, from Ancient Ilida (the host city of the Olympic Games) to Ancient Olympia (the sacred site where the Games were held), with the residents of the villages along The Route of Truce proving that hospitality is a way of life.
Alongside the Route of Truce, two additional routes were held, honoring the pioneers of the Truce, which was a prerequisite for the staging of the ancient Olympic Games:
The Route of Ifitos, honoring the King of Ilida, Ifitos (who, together with Kleosthenis of Pisa and Lycurgus of Sparta, had signed the Truce), from the village of Ilida to the (wooden) theatre at the Archaeological Site of Ilida (distance 2 km), which was run by Primary School and Middle School children.
The Route of Kleosthenis, from Ancient Pisa to Ancient Olympia (5 km race), honoring the King of Ancient Pisa, Kleosthenis.
The participation of the runners showed that the message of the Truce is strong and must be strengthened even further under today’s difficult and special circumstances.
The start for the “Route of Truce 2023” was given on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at 6:00 a.m. from Ancient Ilida, and the finish took place in Ancient Olympia at approximately 4:30 p.m.
More than 400 runners took part. Of particular importance for the meaning and value of the Truce was the participation of runners from Turkey, Syria, Ukraine, Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Spain, Romania, the Philippines, Albania and Bulgaria.
From the sacred land of Ilia—where the Olympic Games began—all of us, with our modest strength, opened the way for our own small truce. The small truce that begins with each one of us—at home, in our courtyard, in our neighborhood, in our city—in order to bring the great Truce to the world. The one that, at this difficult moment for humanity, we need more than anything else.
The route is long and difficult. Yet all together, holding an olive branch from the sacred land of Ilida and Olympia, giving our effort, we will unite our strength and become heralds of the Truce and of Peace.
The 50 km route starts from Ancient Ilida, passes through 13 villages of semi-mountainous Ilia (Dafni, Keramidia, Dafniotissa, Peristeri, Cheimadio, Sopi, Karatoula, Magoula, Latzoi, Herakleia, Pournari, Pelopio, Platanos) and ends in Olympia.
Residents and associations of the areas the runners passed through welcomed them, as every year, offering them local delicacies.
Wishing to honor Kostas Hatzis, who has participated in the Route of Truce since its launch in 2016, the organizers appointed him as the forerunner of the runners. Mr. Hatzis, every year, makes his own Route of Truce, starting from the Netherlands to come to Greece and run in the Route of Truce.
The Route of Truce does not have a competitive character, and unique numbered medals were awarded to all those who successfully completed the entire 50 km route, as it is the organizers’ belief that completing this difficult route reflects the difficulty of reaching the longed-for peace through truce—something our ancestors achieved, since observing the Truce was a decisive condition for participating in the Olympic Games of antiquity.
As is well known, before the Olympic Games of antiquity the Truce was proclaimed. Athletes entering the Kingdom of Ilida laid down their weapons at the borders, and for one month in Ilida they trained together and followed a common diet. After the first assessment by the judges, the athletes, the Hellanodikai, the priests, etc., proceeded in procession from Ancient Ilida to Ancient Olympia for the celebration of the Games.
The organizing committee warmly thanks the residents and the associations of the villages along the route who, under these difficult conditions for everyone, proved that hospitality lies at the heart of the local communities. All community presidents, as well as the Deputy Governors for Sports, Volunteering and Olympism Mr. Dimitris Nikolakopoulos and for Agricultural Development Mr. Thodoris Vasilopoulos, the Mayor of Ancient Olympia Mr. Giorgos Georgiopoulos together with the Deputy Mayor for Culture Mr. Fotis Kostarias, the Mayor of Pyrgos Mr. Takis Antonakopoulos with his associates, and the Representative of His Eminence the Metropolitan of Ilia, His Grace Athanasios, were there to welcome the runners.
THE ROUTE OF KLEOSTHENIS 2023
On Saturday morning, the Route of Truce dedicated to the King of Ancient Pisa, Kleosthenis—“The Route of Kleosthenis 2023”—took place: a 5 km route with a competitive character. The start was given by the President of the Local Community Mr. Sof. Sofianopoulos and the Director of ASAED, Captain Spyridon Andriopoulos (holder of the Greek national marathon record for 36 years, as well as the 10,000 meters record).
The runners started from the Church of Agia Kyriaki in Ancient Pisa, passed in front of the graves of the Hellanodikai, entered the International Olympic Academy, passed above the ancient Stadium of Olympia and finished at the Grove of Truce just before the entrance to the archaeological site of Ancient Olympia.
Results of the Route of Kleosthenis:
Women’s Category:
1st Machi Adamopoulou (Run Amaliada) 26:09
2nd Eleni Alexopoulou (Independent) 26:20
3rd Angeliki Kokoni (Independent) 26:45
Men’s Category:
1st Nikolaos Stathakopoulos (Run Amaliada) 17:23
2nd Vasileios Vasileiou (Run Amaliada) 18:01
3rd Dionysios Tzanetos (Independent) 18:50
THE ROUTE OF IFITOS 2023
On Saturday afternoon, shortly before the opening ceremony of the Route of Truce, The Route of Ifitos 2023 took place from Truce Square in the village of Ancient Ilida to the (wooden) theatre at the Archaeological Site of Ilida, for children in the final grades of primary school and in middle school.
The route is dedicated to the pioneer of the Truce, King Ifitos of Ancient Ilida.
In the race, the winners among primary school students were Nefeli Marathia and Panagiotis Dimitrakopoulos.
Among middle school students, Eleftheria Papanikolaou and Apostolos De Marinis.
The Route of Ifitos took place within the framework of #BEACTIVE actions.
The Federation of Olympia especially thanks the Parents and Guardians Association of the Primary School of Avgeio for its contribution to the success of the Route of Ifitos.
THE OPENING CEREMONY
On Saturday, May 6, 2023, immediately after the Route of Ifitos, the opening ceremony of the Route of Truce 2023 took place at the theatre of Ancient Ilida.
The President of the Federation of Olympia, Ms. Sofia Hintziou Kontogianni, referred to the need to establish the Truce as an Olympic value also in the modern Olympic Games and stressed: “We are here to walk the Route of Truce, in an effort to remind that in the modern world we live in, all of us who believe in Olympism and the values it represents must highlight the fundamental Olympic value—the value of the Truce that leads to the longed-for peace.” She also pointed out: “Each one of you runners who participate in the Route of Truce is an informal messenger of the Truce in the modern era”.
Finally, honorary plaques were presented to the forerunner of the Route of Truce Mr. Kostas Hatzis, the runner from Turkey Mr. Dogan Pekgoz and the #BEACTIVE ambassador, world champion in TAE KWON DO Ms. Maria Karpathaki.
The event concluded with the group “En Choro” from Zacharo (in costumes by Ms. Aemilia Giannopoulou), who, after dancing, distributed branches of wild olive from the sacred land of Ilia to everyone present.
Afterwards, the local band Banda Morena brought the event to a close. Everyone present enjoyed the songs, ending the celebration with dancing.
Present were the Deputy Governor for Agricultural Development Mr. Thodoris Vasilopoulos (who also offers the runners of the Route of Truce, as a symbolic gift from Ilia, a small bottle of organic olive oil produced by him), the Deputy Governor for Sports, Volunteering and Olympism Mr. Dim. Nikolakopoulos, the ND candidate for Ilia Mr. Lefteris Varouxis, the former Mayor of Ilida Mr. Chr. Christodoulopoulos, the former President of the Local Community of Ilida Mr. N. Kagianas, and former MP and Deputy Minister Mr. Giorgos Kontogiannis.
At the event venue, works by young students from Ilia from the schools of Ms. Eleni Stathopoulou and Mr. Kristo Hasa were exhibited on the theme: “Great is the dominion of the sea”, which was also the theme of the art exhibition at the Athens War Museum. They were awarded an honorary plaque and commendation, as were the young artists.
The events are organized by the Federation of Olympia. They are co-organized with the Region of Western Greece, the Municipalities of Ilida, Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia, the Supreme Council for Sports of the Armed Forces, and the International Olympic Truce Center as a cooperating support body, with the support of the Region of Attica and #BEACTIVE, technical support from the Athens War Museum. They are held under the auspices of: the Ministries of National Defence, Culture and Sports – G.G.A., Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Rural Development and Food, Tourism, the International Military Sports Council (CISM), the Hellenic Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Academy, the Greek National Tourism Organisation, the National Olympic Academy, the Union of Olympians, and the Association of Greek Olympians,
The event warmly thanks its volunteers and the countless volunteers from all the villages along the Route of Truce, who offer their local delicacies; the Volunteer Samaritans, Rescuers and Lifeguards Corps of the Regional Branch of the Hellenic Red Cross in Amaliada; Dr. Panagiotis Bourlidis and the volunteer doctors who supported him; the EKAV crew and the Hellenic Police, whose traffic police officers were tirelessly alongside the runners throughout all our activities; the Scouts of Ilioupoli; E.O.PY.D. Vrachnaikon and S.E.DI.P. Western Achaia.
Media Sponsors: ERT, ERT-3, Proto Programma, ERA SPOR, ERT Pyrgos, Panhellenic Association of Sports Journalists (PSAT), ATHINA 9.84, RunningNews.gr, OVImagazine, apopseis.gr, Greekteachers.
Official Supporters: AIGEAS AMKE, Avance Car Rental, Befon, LOUX, DIRFYS, Karavias art insurance, PTL Papageorgiou Transport Logistics, PMS Security.
Suppliers–Supporters: Spiroulina PLATENSIS, DOLE bananas, Biolis, BRINTZIKI ESTATE, FarGeco Hellas, KALOMOIRIS ILVIGAL, ENOSI SYNETAIRISMON PANAIGIALEIOS (SUPER 36).
Finally, we warmly thank the Cultural Association of Ancient Ilida, Ancient Ilida, and the Cultural Association of Kalyvia Ilidas “Ilida”, as well as the Parents and Guardians Association of the Primary School of Avgeio for their very important contribution to the opening ceremony and to the Route of Ifitos.
