Route of Truce 2023 events
ILIDA–OLYMPIA: Route of Truce 2023 (50 km)
ANCIENT PISA–ANCIENT OLYMPIA: The Route of Kleosthenis 2023 (5 km)
CHILDREN & TEENS RACE: The Route of Ifitos 2023 (2 km)
OPENING CEREMONY OF THE ROUTE OF TRUCE 2023
For the 8th consecutive year, the Route of Truce 2023 was successfully held on Sunday, with international participation, from Ancient Ilida (the organizing city of the ancient Olympic Games) to Ancient Olympia (the sacred site where the Games were held). Residents of the villages along the Route of Truce trail once again proved that hospitality is a way of life.
Alongside the Route of Truce, two additional runs were held, honoring the key figures behind the Truce—an essential prerequisite for the ancient Olympic Games:
The Ifitos Run, in honor of Ifitos, King of Ilida (who, together with Kleosthenis of Pisa and Lycurgus of Sparta, signed the Truce), from the village of Ilida to the (wooden) theatre at the archaeological site of Ilida (distance: 2 km). It was run by primary and middle-school students.
The Kleosthenis Run, from Ancient Pisa to Ancient Olympia (a 5 km race), honoring Kleosthenis, King of Ancient Pisa.
The runners’ participation showed that the message of the Truce is strong and must be strengthened even more, under today’s difficult and extraordinary conditions.
The start of 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 significance to 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—we each, with our modest strength, opened the path of our own small Truce: the Truce that starts with each one of us, in our home, our yard, our neighborhood, our city, so that we may bring to the world the great Truce. The Truce we need more than anything at this difficult moment for humanity.
The path is long and demanding. Yet all together, holding an olive branch from the sacred land of Ilida and Olympia, giving our own 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 in semi-mountainous Ilia (Dafni, Keramidia, Dafniotissa, Peristeri, Cheimadio, Sopi, Karatoula, Magoula, Latzoi, Irakleia, Pournari, Pelopio, Platanos) and ends in Olympia.
Residents and local associations in every area the runners passed through welcomed them—just as every year—offering local treats.
To honor Kostas Chatzis, who has participated in the Route of Truce since its inception in 2016, the organization appointed him as the forerunner of the runners. Each year Mr. Chatzis completes his own “Route of Truce”, setting off from the Netherlands to travel to Greece and take part in the event.
The Route of Truce is not competitive, and uniquely numbered medals were awarded to everyone who successfully completed the full 50 km distance,
as the organizers believe that completing this demanding route reflects how difficult it is to reach the longed-for peace through the Truce—something our ancestors achieved, since observing the Truce was a decisive condition for participating in the ancient Olympic Games.
As is well known, before the ancient Olympic Games the Truce was proclaimed. Athletes entering the Kingdom of Ilida deposited their weapons at the borders and, for one month, trained together in Ilida and shared a common diet. After the first judgement by the judges, the athletes, the Hellanodikai, 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 associations of the villages along the route who, under these difficult conditions for all, proved that hospitality lies at the heart of the local people. All community presidents, as well as the Vice Governors for Sports, Volunteering and Olympism Mr. Dimitris Nikolakopoulos and for Agricultural Development Mr. Thodoris Vasilopoulos, the Mayor of Ancient Olympia Mr. Giorgos Georgiopoulos 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 H.H. Athanasios, were there to welcome the runners.
THE KLEOSTHENIS RUN 2023
On Saturday morning, the race dedicated to Kleosthenis, King of Ancient Pisa—the “Kleosthenis Run 2023” (5 km)—was held as a competitive event. The start was given by the President of the Local Community Mr. Sof. Sofianopoulos and the Director of the Supreme Council for Sports of the Armed Forces (ASAEF), Captain Spyridon Andriopoulos (who held the Greek national marathon record for 36 years and is also a record holder in the 10,000 meters).
Runners started from the Church of Agia Kyriaki in Ancient Pisa, passed in front of the tombs of the Hellanodikai, entered the International Olympic Academy, passed above the ancient Stadium of Olympia, and finished at the Grove of Truce, shortly before the entrance to the archaeological site of Ancient Olympia.
Results of the Kleosthenis Run:
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 IFITOS RUN 2023
On Saturday afternoon, shortly before the Opening Ceremony of the Route of Truce, the Ifitos Run 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 middle school.
The race is dedicated to Ifitos, the key founder of the Truce and King of Ancient Ilida.
The winners were, from the primary school students: Nefeli Marathia and Panagiotis Dimitrakopoulos.
From the middle school students: Eleftheria Papanikolaou and Apostolos De Marinis.
The Ifitos Run was held as part of the #BEACTIVE activities.
The Federation of Olympia especially thanks the Parents and Guardians Association of Avgeio Primary School for its contribution to the success of the Ifitos Run.
THE OPENING CEREMONY
On Saturday, May 6, 2023, immediately after the Ifitos Run, the Opening Ceremony of the Route of Truce 2023 was held at the theatre of Ancient Ilida.
The President of the Federation of Olympia, Mrs. Sofia Hintziou Kontogianni, referred to the need to establish the Truce as an Olympic value and to the modern Olympic Games, and emphasized: “We are here to walk the Route of Truce, in an effort to remind everyone that in the modern world we live in, all of us who believe in Olympism and in the values it represents have a duty to promote the fundamental Olympic value—the value of the Truce that leads to the much-desired peace.” She also noted: “Each and every one of you runners who take part in the Route of Truce is an unofficial messenger of the Truce in the modern era.”
Finally, honorary plaques were presented to the forerunner of the Route of Truce, Mr. Kostas Chatzis, to the runner from Turkey Mr. Dogan Pekgoz, and to the #BEACTIVE ambassador and world champion in TAE KWON DO, Mrs. Maria Karpathaki.
The event concluded with the group “En Choro” from Zacharo (wearing costumes by Mrs. Emilia Giannopoulou), who—after performing—distributed branches of wild olive from the sacred land of Ilia to everyone present.
Afterwards, the local band Banda Morena brought the ceremony to a close. All attendees enjoyed the songs, ending the celebration with dancing.
Among those present were: the Vice Governor for Agricultural Development Mr. Thodoris Vasilopoulos (who also offers Route of Truce runners, as a symbolic gift from Ilia, a small bottle of organic olive oil produced by him), the Vice Governor for Sports, Volunteering and Olympism Mr. Dimitris Nikolakopoulos, ND parliamentary candidate for Ilia Mr. Lefteris Varouxis, former Mayor of Ilida Mr. Christos Christodoulopoulos, former President of the Local Community of Ilida Mr. N. Kagianas, and former MP and Deputy Minister Mr. Giorgos Kontogiannis.
At the event venue, artworks by young students from Ilia were exhibited, created through the schools of Mrs. Eleni Stathopoulou and Mr. Kristo Hasa, under the theme: “Mega to tis thalassis kratos” (“Great is the power of the sea”), which was also the theme of the art exhibition at the War Museum of Athens. An honorary plaque and commendation were awarded both to the educators and to the young artists.
The events are organized by the Federation of Olympia 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, and the collaborating support organization, the International Olympic Truce Centre, with the support of the Region of Attica and #BEACTIVE, and technical support by the War Museum of Athens. They are held under the auspices of the relevant Ministries and institutional bodies.
The organization warmly thanks its volunteers, the residents of the villages along the route for their hospitality and local offerings, the Volunteer Corps of Samaritans/Rescuers/Lifeguards (Amaliada), the medical team, EKAB ambulance crews, and the Hellenic Police for their continuous support along the route.
Communication Sponsors: ERT, ERT-3, First Programme, ERA SPOR, ERT Pyrgos, PSAT, Athens 9.84, RunningNews.gr, OVImagazine, apopseis.gr, Greekteachers.
Official Supporters: AMKE AIGEAS, 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, UNION OF COOPERATIVES PANAIGIALEIOS (SUPER 36).
Finally, we warmly thank the Cultural Association of Ancient Ilida “Ancient Ilida”, the Cultural Association of Kalyvia Ilida “Ilida”, as well as the Parents and Guardians Association of Avgeio Primary School, for their very important contribution to the Opening Ceremony and to the Ifitos Run.
