Oct 19, 2009, 19:42 GMT
New York - Canada on Monday presented to the UN General Assembly a resolution calling for an end of hostilities worldwide during the Winter Olympics Games in 2010 in Vancouver.
Canada is host to the Winter Games February 12-28 and Paralympic Games March 12-21. It introduced the truce resolution that is mandated by the International Olympic Committee.
The resolution, which was automatically accepted by the assembly in New York, calls on UN members to 'undertake actions at the local, national, regional and world levels to promote and strengthen a culture of peace based on the spirit of the Olympic truce.'
It called on UN members to cooperate with the IOC and Paralympic committee to use sports as a 'tool to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation in areas of conflict during and beyond the Olympic Games period.'
John Furlong, executive officer of the Vancouver organizing committee for the 2010 games, introduced the resolution.
Truce resolutions had been introduced to the UN assembly at each Olympic Games since the early 1990s to revive the Greek tradition of calling for an end of conflict in order allow athletes safe passage and participation in the games.
Your Talkback on this Story