OPENING CEREMONY OF THE ROUTE OF TRUCE 2022

On Saturday, May 14, 2022, the Opening Ceremony of the Route of Truce 2022 was held in Ancient Ilida.

The event began with the National Anthem of Greece and the anthem of the International Military Sports Council (CISM).

Declaring the opening of the ceremony, the President of the Federation of Olympia, Mrs. Sofia Hintziou Kontogianni, emphasized that today more than ever there is an urgent need to redefine the universal values inherited through the Ancient Olympic Games, stating:

“…and to proclaim our own ‘save the Olympic Games’, for the benefit of peoples and the global community.
The fact that in this effort we have CISM as an ally and ASAED as a co-organizer strengthens this endeavor.
What remains is for this effort to become a collective social consciousness.

The Truce must not be absent from the Olympic Movement.
Sport can unite different races, religions and ideologies, but it cannot on its own bring peace, nor can it force the cessation of hostilities.
However, it can serve as the most powerful tool for promoting ideals that highlight the importance and necessity of world peace.
The Olympic Truce does not concern only states, their leaders or politicians.
It is a concept that concerns each and every one of us.”

The President of ASAED and Vice President of CISM for Europe, marathon runner and Navy Captain Spyros Andriopoulos, in his address stated:

“The Route of Truce is the path that, in ancient Greece, ancient hoplites–athletes walked from Ilida to Olympia, after first laying down their weapons.
You, the athletes, approximately 2,800 years later, are walking the very same route in order to carry the message of truce, peace and friendship among the peoples of the world.

This is the message we wish to convey as the Greek delegation to CISM, and for this reason we support every year this initiative of the Federation of Olympia, which began in 2016.”

Among those attending the event were Member of Parliament for Ilia Dionysia Avgerinopoulou, who stressed the need to support the initiatives and actions of the Federation of Olympia, the Vice Governor for Sports, Olympism and Volunteering of the Region of Western Greece, Dimitris Nikolakopoulos, Lefteris Varouxis, candidate Member of the European Parliament (ND), and the Director of the Czech Centre in Athens, Lucie Kulligova.

Concluding the addresses, the heads of the five delegations were honorarily awarded by the Vice President of CISM for Europe and Director of ASAED, Captain Spyros Andriopoulos, and by the President of the Federation of Olympia, Mrs. Sofia Hintziou Kontogianni, who offered them an olive branch as a symbolic gift, created by sculptor Angelos Panagiotidis.

Sweets were offered to attendees by the Cultural Associations of Ilida and Kalyvia Ilida.

The event concluded in an atmosphere of joy, dance and song, accompanied by the local band Banda Morena.

At the event venue, artworks by young students from Ilia (from the art workshops of Eleni Stathopoulou and Kristo Defrim Hasa) and from the Czech Republic (students of the “Dana and Emil Zátopek” school in Třinec, as well as students from Athens) were exhibited.
The theme of the exhibition was:
“Evoi Okypoda!” (“Bravo, swift runner!”) and
“From Koroibos to Emil Zátopek”, which was also the theme of the Route of Truce 2022 art exhibition held at the War Museum of Athens on April 6.

Collaborating organizations for the actions of the Federation of Olympia for the 7th Route of Truce were the International Olympic Truce Centre and the Czech Centre Athens.
The actions 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, CISM, the Hellenic Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Academy, GNTO, ETHNOA, and the Association of Olympic Participants.

The actions also received Technical Support from the War Museum of Athens and communication sponsors including PSAT, ERT, ERT3, First Programme, ERA Sport, ERT Pyrgos, Athens 9.84, RunningNews.gr, OVI Magazine, apopseis.gr and Greekteachers.

Warm thanks are extended to:
Main Sponsor: Turbomed – Yiannis Paraskevopoulos s.a.
Official Supporters: AMKE AIGEAS, Loux, DIRFYS, Avance Car Rental, Nosti Most, Hellenic Gyros, DOLE Hellas, National Insurance
Suppliers & Supporters: Biolis, Agricultural Cooperative of Koryfi Ilia, Union of Farmers of Ilia IKE, FarGeco Hellas, Kalomoiri ILIVIGAL, Mercouri Estate.

Voluntary support was provided by the Volunteer Corps of Samaritans, Rescuers and Lifeguards of the Amaliada Regional Department, E.O.P.Y.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