ROUTE OF OLYMPIC TRUCE 2024
500 runners from 17 countries at the Route of Truce for Peace
A strong message in difficult times, but also grief for the loss of a fellow runner
In an atmosphere of enthusiasm, fellowship, respect, emotion, and also grief over the sudden death of a Route of Truce runner, the three-day events of the SYMPOLITEIA OLYMPIAS AMKE in Ilia for the “Route of Olympic Truce 2024” were successfully concluded on Sunday, April 14, 2024.
Athletes from all over Greece, as well as from abroad, walked the 50 kilometers of the Route of Truce trail from the organizing city of the ancient Olympic Games, Ancient Ilida, to their place of celebration, Ancient Olympia.
The runners started on Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 06:45 a.m. from the entrance of the Old Museum of Ancient Ilida. They passed through the villages of Dafni, Keramidia, Dafniotissa, Peristeri, Cheimadio, Sopi, Karatoula, Magoula, Latzoi, Herakleia, Pournari, Pelopio and Platanos and finished at the Old Town Hall of Ancient Olympia, where the awards ceremony also took place.
In the “Route of Olympic Truce 2024” approximately 500 runners took part from Greece and from 16 countries (Germany, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Russia, France, Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Spain, Hungary, Austria, Britain, Italy, the USA, the Philippines, Albania, Romania), powerfully conveying the message of Peace as “forerunners” of the Olympic period that began with the Lighting of the Olympic Flame in Ancient Olympia. A particularly moving and symbolically significant moment was the awarding of the participants from Russia and Ukraine, who were invited for their awards together.
The “Route of Olympic Truce 2024” took place on the ecotourism route Ilida–Olympia: the “Route of Truce”, it had no competitive character, and unique numbered medals were awarded to the runners who completed the 50 km route. The medal was designed by Charis Apergi, jewelry designer. This year, the peace walk was led by Steffanos Von Theos from Germany (a well-known Philhellene who, upon retiring, came to settle permanently in Greece) and by Kostas Hatzis (who lives permanently in the Netherlands, has participated in all Routes of Truce, and each year makes his own Route of Truce journey in order to come and take part).
In all villages along the route, the runners once again received the best possible hospitality from the residents—volunteers of the Route of Truce—who offered local delicacies, wishing to show that the philosophy of “Xenios Zeus” still exists in the land that gave birth to the Olympic Games.
Unfortunately, shortly before the events ended and this celebration of the Truce and Peace concluded, a tragic incident occurred. One of the runners who participated again this year in the Route of Truce collapsed shortly before Pelopio. He immediately received first aid from the event doctor who was following along with the Samaritans of the Hellenic Red Cross, and CPR was started. An EKAV ambulance arrived promptly and transported him to the Ancient Olympia Health Center. Sadly, although the doctors tried persistently, they were unable to keep him alive.
And while we should be optimistic that in these difficult days for humanity, together with hundreds of fellow Greeks and foreigners, we carried the message of fellowship and peace along a 50 km route without a competitive character, we experience profound sorrow for the loss of a human life—a Route of Truce runner…
The members of the Sympoliteia Olympias express our deep sorrow for this tragic incident and offer our condolences to his family. May the earth that covers him be light.
All events are organized by Sympoliteia Olympias AMKE and 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 (A.S.A.E.D.), with the International Olympic Truce Center as a cooperating support body, supported by #BEACTIVE, and held under the auspices of the Ministries of National Defence, Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Rural Development and Food, Tourism, the International Military Sports Council (CISM), the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC), the International Olympic Academy (IOA), the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO), the National Olympic Academy (ETHN.O.A.), the Union of Olympians (E.S.O.A.), the Association of Greek Olympians (S.E.O.), with technical support from the War Museum, media sponsors ERT, ERT3, ERA SPOR 101.8, ERT Pyrgos, Proto Programma, PSAT, Running News.gr, OVI, apopseis.gr, Greekteachers, and volunteer support from the Hellenic Red Cross (Volunteer Samaritans, Rescuers and Lifeguards Corps, Amaliada Regional Branch), the Hellenic Scouts – Scouts of Ilioupoli, E.O.PY.D. Vrachnaikon, RUN AMALIADA, etc.
We warmly thank the Hellenic Police for their support throughout the events, our doctors, the HRC Regional Branch of Pyrgos and the HRC Volunteer Samaritans, Rescuers and Lifeguards Corps, Amaliada Branch, who were continuously by the runners’ side providing medical coverage. The Corps is today the largest and most active volunteer first aid, rescue and lifeguarding organization in Greece, with vast experience in such events, and it was a great safety, reassurance and honor that they supported the runners again this year.
In our effort to keep alive in our memory the history and values of our land, we wish to thank our supporters for their support and contribution, which greatly helps to promote and achieve our purpose: Loux, bottled water Dirfys, AVANCE car rental, BEFON, AIGEAS AMKE, DOLE, KTIMA BRINTZIKI, Panachaiki Union of Cooperatives (for the excellent raisins), Kalomoiris ILVIGAL, and finally the ITI/SUD within the territorial unit of the Municipalities of Pyrgos, Ilida and Ancient Olympia, “WESTERN GREECE” Programme co-financed by Greece and the European Union, ESPA 2021–2027.
You can find the press release with all the events within the Route of Olympic Truce 2024 HERE.
