L'asta di biciclette

                                                                                                                                   Roma 21-04-2013

Mi appresto ad arrivare nella capitale la mattina del 21 aprile 2013, il giorno dopo la scoperta del velo di maya del Pd e la conseguente inevitabile nascita del “governissimo” del Presidente voluto da tutti i partiti a vocazione maggioritaria (?). Ma io vado avanti per la mia strada e questa mi porta alla scoperta della parte buona del nostro Paese, tra giovani volenterosi e aperti al cambiamento.

Sono a Roma in piazza Madonna dei Monti e da spettatore osservo lo straordinario lavoro dell’associazione “Ciclonauti” di Roma.

Gli attivisti dell’associazione gestiscono una ciclofficina in via Baccina, 37 nel quartiere rionale Monti. È un gruppo nutrito di ragazzi e ragazze, allegri e ben disposti. Sin dalla mattina della domenica si sono riuniti in piazza con un gazebo, gadget, attrezzi da ciclo officina e tanto buon umore. Si lavora all’evento che propongono due volte l’anno ad aprile e settembre: un’asta di biciclette!

Un’iniziativa frutto di un importante sforzo dei ragazzi dell'associazione, i quali in collaborazione con l’Ama di Roma gestiscono per due volte l'anno questa meravigliosa asta di bicicletta aperta a tutti. Specifichiamo che l'Ama permette soltanto ai volontari di presiedere le zone di raccolta della società romana e nel caso ci fossero bici, consentono il riciclo della bici in esubero all'associazione stessa. Così i volontari organizzano corsi di meccanica e restaurazione dei mezzi a due ruote e i partecipanti al corso stesso si fanno promotori della loro creazione e gestiscono l’asta con l’aiuto dei più avvezzi volontari ciclonauti. Le bici sono semplici, vecchie mountain bike adattate a city bike, o semplicemente restaurate, olandesine a bacchetta, bici a due piani, creative, colorare, autunnali, insomma una vasta gamma di mezzi a due ruote a disposizione dei partecipanti all’asta (festa). 

È stato un pomeriggio fantastico! Un evento come non vedevo da tempo, semplice ma giocoso, umile ma ricco di umanità. I prezzi dell’asta sono sempre stati tenuti a bada per evitare un gioco al rialzo troppo oneroso. Così inevitabilmente i più desiderosi della bici in palio si sono dovuti sottoporre ad ogni genere di fantasia degli organizzatori, e vi assicuro che ne hanno avuta tanta! Ma la risposta del pubblico è stata fantastica! Tutte le bici sono state vendute, tra una gara di canto, di ballo, una corsa al chinotto, ruba bandiera e chi più ne ha più ne metta. Tutti si sono sentiti parte della festa, persino io che dovendo tornare a Pescara non potevo rischiare di caricarmi una bici sull’autobus. Insomma una festa meritevole in cui oltre al divertimento, si promuove e sponsorizza l'uso quotidiano della bicicletta come mezzo trasporto, la cosidetta: mobilità nuova. Una necessità che sta davvero contagiando tanti attivisti e volontari in tutto il Paese.

Questa esperienza mi porta a rilevare per l’ennesima volta quanto sia prezioso uscire dai confini della propria città e scoprire quello che succede in altri posti. Il web è prezioso e ci aiuta ad andare fuori senza superare la soglia di casa, ma l’esperienza reale è un’altra storia, troppo più bella per essere superata dalla realtà virtuale. Da questa domenica porto con me i ricordi e le immagini di questa esperienza e ne farò tesoro. Specialmente con i miei amici ciclo “rivoluzionari”, con cui abbiamo da poco messo in piedi un primo timido tentativo di ciclo mercatino dell’usato e del riciclo a Pescara che è andato molto bene. E ora lavorerò, sulla base di questa esperienza, a qualcosa di simile e la proporrò alla prima occasione, appena riusciremo ad aprire la nostra prima ciclo officina cittadina, vi aggiorneremo!

Peter Ranalli

Un video dell'asta, realizzato da Giandomenico Ciampa

Chi va piano, va sano e va lontano - Slow and steady wins the race

[English below] 

Cari “co-produttori”, fan e appassionati di Bike4Truce,

nel corso delle le ultime settimane abbiamo avuto l’opportunità di entrare in contatto con tantissime persone, ricevendo una grande quantità di commenti, suggerimenti e anche diverse critiche. Tutti questi contributi ci hanno arricchito e ci hanno portati a riformulare la strategia per ultimare il progetto del nostro webdoc.

Chi va piano, va sano e va lontano

Questa è la prima cosa che abbiamo imparato. C’è bisogno di più tempo per aprire spazi di collaborazione e integrare il mondo virtuale con quello reale, entrando in contatto con chi condivide il nostro obiettivo: promuovere un modello di sviluppo più umano e sostenibile, basato sulla cultura dell’uso intensivo della bicicletta.

Vogliamo andare oltre i confini nazionali

Il respiro del progetto Bike4Truce, tanto per il webdoc quanto per il ciclotour che il webdoc racconta, è senz’altro internazionale. Vogliamo coinvolgere ciclisti, cicloamatori e sostenitori della pace in tutto il mondo. Per questo motivo, e per aumentare le chances di raccogliere i fondi necessari ad ultimare il webdoc, tra qualche giorno sposteremo la nostra raccolta fondi da Produzioni dal Basso a una piattaforma internazionale. Vi aggiorneremo presto in merito.

Condividere il più possibile

Vogliamo condividere il più liberamente possibile la nostra idea di bicicletta come “arma di azione di massa” e di creatività. Da ora in poi sarà possibile partecipare al concorso fotografico Smile4Truce anche senza prenotare quote della raccolta fondi su Produzioni dal Basso – leggi qui il regolamento aggiornato.

Grazie per il supporto che già avete dato e quello che vorrete continuare a dare a Bike4Truce! :)

Continuate a seguirci e a interagire con noi, 

su Facebook (www.facebook.com/Bike4Truce), 

Twitter (www.twitter.com/Bike4Truce) 

e sul nostro sito (www.bike4truce.org).

Il team di Bike4Truce

***

[italiano in alto] 

Dear “co-producers”, fans and Bike4Truce enthusiasts,

during the last few weeks we had the chance to get in touch with a lot of people from whom we received many comments, suggestions, and several criticisms too. All these contributions enriched us and led us to reconsider the strategy to accomplish our webdoc project.

Slow and steady wins the race

This is the first lesson we learned. A longer time is needed to open up, make room for collaboration and integrate the virtual world and the real one, by getting in contact with those who share our goal: to promote a more human and sustainable model of development, based on the culture of an intensive use of bicycles.

We want to go beyond national borders

The Bike4Truce project, for the webdoc part as well as the cycletour part, certainly is the result of a large-scale international effort. We aim at involving cyclists, cycling enthusiasts ad peace supporters all over the world. For this reason, and in order to increase the chances of collecting the funds needed to finalise the webdoc, in a few days we will move our crowdfunding campaign from Produzioni dal Basso to an international platform. We will update you soon about this.

Share as much as possible

We want to share in the freest possible way our idea of bicycle as a “weapon of mass action” and creativity. From now on, it is possible to take part in Smile4Truce photo contest even for those who haven’t booked any share of the crowdfunding campaign on Produzioni dal Basso – read the updated rules here: http://www.bike4truce.org/cycling-world/news/55-smile4truce-contest-fotografico-regolamento)

Thanks for all the support you already gave and the one you will be willing to give to Bike4Truce! 

Keep on following us and interact with us 

on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Bike4Truce), 

Twitter (www.twitter.com/Bike4Truce) 

and on our website (www.bike4truce.org).

The Bike4Truce Team

cyclists’ heavy breathing causes pollution as they ride

Legislator says cyclists’ heavy breathing causes pollution as they ride…. No worries on doing any exercise, just as long as you hold your breath!

 

 

Retrieved at this link

SEATTLE —

A state legislator started a firestorm by claiming bicyclists add to greenhouse gas emissions by breathing heavily as they ride.

Bike shop owner Dale Carlson said he was so concerned about a proposal to tax bicycle sales that he wrote to state legislators.

The email he received back from the transportation committee’s ranking Republican, Ed Orcutt of Kalama, made an unusual claim.

“He talked about the effect on global warming we have from breathing hard,” said Carlson.

Orcutt refuted the idea that cycling is environmentally friendly by explaining that cyclists have “an increased heart rate and respiration.”

Orcutt wrote that means “the act of riding a bike results in greater emissions of carbon dioxide from the rider.  Since CO2 is deemed to be a greenhouse gas and a pollutant, bicyclists are actually polluting when they ride,” the email said.

“Oh, I thought that was amusing,” said Carlson.

Carlson forwarded Orcutt’s email to a friend.  It’s now all over cycling blogs and social media.

In an interview with the Seattle Bike Blog, Orcutt went a step further and was quoted saying “you would be giving off more CO2 if you are riding a bike than driving a car.”     

When KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Graham Johnson reached Orcutt by phone, he retracted what he had said.

“I was over the top on that one and I do apologize to the cycling community for that,” said Orcutt.

Orcutt acknowledged there was no merit to his claims.

“It’s not a strong enough argument. I really shouldn’t have even brought it up,” said Orcutt.

“That’s good to hear,” said Carlson.

Carlson hopes attention turns to the House Democrats’ proposed bike tax.

The tax would help fund road improvements with a $25 sales fee on bikes worth $500 or more.

Opponents say it would hurt cyclists and small businesses.

La realtà è apparenza.

Image retrieved at this link

La realtà è apparenza.

Ammettendo che esistano un tempo ed uno spazio assoluti (anche se sembra vero il contrario) solo ciò che ciascuno di noi interpreta, dandosi una ragione di ciò che accade e creando la personale versione dei fatti – o addirittura, creando la stessa esistenza dei fatti - finisce per chiamarsi realtà, la nostra realtà soggettiva.

È come guardare il mondo attraverso un filtro semipermeabile. Una finestra speciale che filtra colori, suoni, odori, preconcetti, emozioni, ricordi, illusioni, credenze, progetti; oppure, che fa emergere - istante per istante - una possibile configurazione dell’io cosciente che interagisce con la realtà e , assegnandole l'appellativo di "vera", la sceglie tra gli infiniti mondi possibili.

Possedevo la mia prima bici personale dall’estate precedente, quando l’avevo conquistata con la promozione in III media. Era un modello sportivo, con uno stretto manubrio orizzontale, manopole a barilotto, ruote da 28” e dotato di un cambio posteriore a tre rapporti. Una finezza per quei tempi.

Dopo pochi giorni dall’acquisto avevo già smontato i parafanghi e le luci: inutili orpelli per un mezzo votato alla velocità pura.

Il fatto è che l’inverno avanzava e passavo ore ed ore a studiare il mio destriero per capire come trasformarlo in una vera fuoriserie. L’idea balenò una mattina di gennaio – era sabato – quando, al risveglio, trovai che un’abbondante nevicata aveva coperto le strade e le poche macchine in circolazione avevano le catene montate.

Non avevo mai visto una bici sulla neve… perché non ci sono le catene adatte – pensai sgranando gli occhi – Bisognava trovare una soluzione adatta allo scopo. In breve ero in garage e mi misi al lavoro, ragionando per imitazione.

Le catene per auto si avvolgono al pneumatico per conferire mordente , ma la corda che rigiravo tra le mani mentre scandagliavo il mio piccolo mondo, da sola, non funzionava. Finalmente l’occhio cadde su una scatoletta di dadi per bulloni da 5 mm che avevo barattato l’estate prima per un orologio (finto) subacqueo: il mordente si concretizzò nel modello che andavo prefigurando.

Serviva uno spago di lunghezza adeguata e lo trovai nel cassetto della cucina dove mia madre riponeva il gomitolo che usava per fare gli involtini. Ci volle più di un’ora per predisporre due collane lunghe oltre due metri l’una: un doppio filo doveva coprire lo sviluppo della circonferenza di ciascuna ruota , fissando una sessantina di dadi a distanza regolare. Ora avevo la catena!

Per fissarla alla ruota , pensai, ci vuole un grosso ago con il quale guidare lo spago che trasversalmente infila i dadi e li rende solidali al copertoncino. Recuperai di corsa l’ago che avevo visto nella macchina da cucire, sgonfiai le camere d’aria e, lavorando ininterrottamente, conclusi l’operazione prima di pranzo. Nel primo pomeriggio rigonfiai le gomme all’inverosimile e la “catena” aderì al pneumatico come se ne facesse parte.

Un lavoro da professionisti – gongolai – ammirando il risultato.

Stava per fare buio quando - di fretta – rimontai le ruote , mi accertai che giravano liberamente e corsi per strada. Vidi con malcelata soddisfazione che c’erano ancora i miei amici a giocare con la neve. Salii sulla bici appoggiandomi ad un palo. Sentii la catena penetrare lo strato di neve e agganciare la presa. Alla prima pedalata felpata ne seguì una più potente ed una più potente ancora, fino a che, in piedi sui pedali e sul viso stampata un’espressione aerodinamica , approcciai i miei compagni allibiti, a velocità crescente.

Fu quando vidi arrivare una palla di neve lanciata da qualche impertinente invidioso che, istintivamente, tirai la leva del freno anteriore.

Fu un istante, ma per me durò un tempo infinito. Lo spago che avevo avvolto intorno al cerchio agganciò le tacchette del freno e la ruota si bloccò all’istante, mentre io volavo per poi sprofondare  ai piedi dei miei amici, come una foca che scivola dalla banchisa polare direttamente nelle fauci di un’orca famelica.

La presenza nell’atto di creare era stata inglobata dalla presenza nell’atto di esibire la creazione. La finestra dalla quale avevo guardato la realtà si era incurvata ed aveva deformato il modello che avevo prefigurato mentalmente, portandomi a conclusioni sbagliate.

L’impatto con la neve suonò come un gong nelle mani dell’ipnotizzatore che sveglia il suo bersaglio riportandomi, incredulo , davanti alla platea irridente dei miei compagni e ad un nuovo stato di coscienza, finalmente capace di valutare sequenzialmente elementari rapporti di causa ed effetto: la corda andava avvolta al copertone e non al cerchio, sul quale si stringono le tacchette dei freni.

Ciò che ebbe maggiore impatto fu che, in quello stesso momento, raggiunsi una consapevolezza più profonda del fatto che il mondo poteva essere ben diverso, se osservato da più punti di vista.

Il piano B

Image retrieved at this link

Hai mai provato a scandagliare nella tua memoria, alla ricerca del primo ricordo?

L’infanzia è qualcosa che ci appartiene principalmente per i racconti che i testimoni più maturi di noi ci hanno tramandato ed è immersa in quella bambagia dalla quale, come un raggio di sole che si insinua nella compattezza del manto nuvoloso, emerge fugace e imprecisa, mitica e favolosa.

Non è un caso che i ricordi più vivi sono legati agli eventi più dolorosi. Una punizione, una delusione cocente, una caduta dall’alto, la vergogna di un pianto sommesso nel letto bagnato per non aver trattenuto lo zampillo di quel putto impertinente che rincorrevamo nel sogno.

Chi , come me, ha avuto un’infanzia da definire felice è portato a dimenticare, a non collegare gli eventi mentre imperscrutabilmente questi hanno forgiato, colpo dopo colpo, la nostra natura, condizionando l’inconscio a preferire le scelte che, dall’esterno, appaiono come il nostro carattere, le nostre attitudini, fino a diventare passioni, lavori, carriere, amori più o meno durevoli.

È in una delle pieghe della mia memoria infantile – avrò avuto sei o sette anni - che appare, come fosse creata dal nulla, la mia prima bicicletta che, come mi accadeva per tante altre proprietà personali, era appartenuta ad un fratello più grande. Per la verità questa era stata dismessa da mia sorella e , ancor più della bicicletta, ricordo la giustificazione che continuavo a ripetermi per farmela piacere e per contrastare le ironie dei compagni più fortunati: con una bici da donna, quando non tocchi per terra, è più facile fermarsi.

Non sapevo che questa dissociazione avrebbe dato origine ad uno degli aspetti normativi più decisivi per la mia vita futura: bisognava avere sempre pronto un pianoB!   

2011 October 11_ United Nations Resolution on the Olympic Truce

United Nations A/66/L.3


General Assembly Distr.: Limited
11 October 2011
Original: English

Sixty-sixth session

Agenda item 11 (a)

Sport for peace and development: building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica,
Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic
of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt,
El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia,
Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius,
Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro,
Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand,
Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic
of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra
Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand,
the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates,
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of
Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Viet Nam and Zambia:

draft resolution

Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 64/4 of 19 October 2009, in which it decided to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-sixth session the sub-item entitled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal”, and recalling also its prior decision to consider the sub-item every two years in advance of each Summer and Winter Olympic Games,

Recalling also its resolution 48/11 of 25 October 1993, which, inter alia, revived the ancient Greek tradition of ekecheiria (“Olympic Truce”) calling for a truce during the Olympic Games that would encourage a peaceful environment and ensure the safe passage and participation of athletes and relevant persons at the Games, thereby mobilizing the youth of the world to the cause of peace,

Recalling further that the core concept of ekecheiria, historically, was the cessation of hostilities from seven days before until seven days after the Olympic Games, which, according to the legendary oracle of Delphi, was to replace the cycle of conflict with a friendly athletic competition every four years,

Reaffirming the value of sport in promoting education, health, development and peace,

Recalling the inclusion in the United Nations Millennium Declaration ( See resolution 55/2) of an appeal for the observance of the Olympic Truce now and in the future and for support for the International Olympic Committee in its efforts to promote peace and human understanding through sport and the Olympic ideal,

Acknowledging the valuable contribution that the appeal launched by the International Olympic Committee for an Olympic Truce could make towards advancing the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Noting that the Games of the XXX Olympiad will take place from 27 July to 12 August 2012, and that the XIV Paralympic Games will take place from 29 August to 9 September 2012, in London,

Welcoming the granting of observer status to the International Olympic Committee following the adoption of resolution 64/3 of 19 October 2009 and its participation in the sessions and work of the General Assembly,

Acknowledging the joint endeavours of the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, the Office of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace, and the United Nations system in such fields as human development, poverty alleviation, humanitarian assistance, health promotion, HIV and AIDS prevention, child and youth education, gender equality, peacebuilding and sustainable development,

Noting the successful conclusion of the first Youth Olympic Games, held in Singapore in 2010, and welcoming the first Youth Winter Olympic Games, to be held in Innsbruck, Austria, from 13 to 22 January 2012, and the second Youth Olympic Games, to be held in China from 16 to 28 August 2014,
Recalling the articles on leisure, recreation, sport and play in relevant international conventions, including article 30 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ( Resolution 61/106, annex I.)  recognizing the right of persons with disabilities to take part on an equal basis with others in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport, noting that the 1948 Olympic Games, held in London, inspired the staging of the first organized sporting event for patients with spinal cord injuries at Stoke Mandeville near London, and heralding the birth of a new global sporting movement for athletes with disabilities, the establishment of the Paralympic Games and plans to stage integrated and inclusive Games for Everyone in 2012,


Recalling also that the main themes of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London are to host genuinely sustainable Games that deliver long-term social, economic, environmental and sporting benefits, helping to promote more stable, inclusive and peaceful communities and urban regeneration, addressing climate change, enhancing international relations and cooperation, and changing attitudes towards disability; and to inspire young people around the world to enrich their lives through sport, for example through the introduction of the London 2012 international legacy programme — International Inspiration, Welcoming the commitment made by various States Members of the United Nations to developing national and international programmes which promote peace and conflict resolution and the Olympic and Paralympic values through sport and through culture, education, sustainable development and wider public engagement, Recognizing the humanitarian opportunities presented by the Truce and by other initiatives to achieve the cessation of conflict supported by the United Nations, such as the International Day of Peace established by resolution 36/67 of 30 November 1981,

Noting with satisfaction the flying of the United Nations flag at the Olympic Park,


1.  Urges Member States to observe, within the framework of the Charter of the United Nations, the Olympic Truce, individually and collectively, throughout the period beginning with the start of the Games of the XXX Olympiad and ending with the closing of the XIV Paralympic Games;


2.  Welcomes the work of the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee to mobilize international sports organizations and the National Olympic Committees and National Paralympic Committees of Member States to undertake concrete actions at the local, national, regional and international levels to promote and strengthen a culture of peace based on the spirit of the Olympic Truce, and invites those organizations and national committees to share information and best practices, as appropriate;

3. Also welcomes the leadership of Olympic and Paralympic athletes in promoting peace and human understanding through sport and the Olympic ideal;


4. Calls upon all Member States to cooperate with the International Olympic Committee and the  International Paralympic Committee in their efforts to use sport as a tool to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation in areas of conflict during and beyond the Olympic and Paralympic Games period;


5. Welcomes the cooperation among Member States, the United Nations and the specialized agencies, funds and programmes, and the International Olympic Committee and, where appropriate, the International Paralympic Committee, to work towards a meaningful and sustainable contribution through sport to raising awareness of and to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, and encourages the Olympic and Paralympic movements to work closely with national and international sports organizations on the use of sport to contribute to the Millennium Development Goals;

6. Requests the Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly to promote the observance of the Olympic Truce among Member States and support for human development initiatives through sport and to cooperate with the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee and the sporting community in general in the realization of those objectives;


7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-eighth session the sub-item entitled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal” and to consider the sub-item before the XXII Olympic Winter Games and the XI Paralympic Winter Games to be held in Sochi, Russian Federation, in 2014.

Retrieved at this link

Olympic Truce milestones

2012
  

“As President of the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session, I solemnly appeal to all Member States to demonstrate their commitment to the Olympic Truce for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games, and to undertake concrete actions at the local, national, regional and world levels to promote and strengthen a culture of peace and harmony based on the spirit of the Truce. Referring to the original tradition of the Olympic Truce practiced in ancient times, as described in resolution 66/5, I also call upon all warring parties of current armed conflicts around the world to boldly agree to true mutual ceasefires for the duration of the Olympic Truce, thus providing an opportunity to settle disputes peacefully.” Read the Solemn appeal made by the President of the General Assembly on 28 June 2012 in connection with the observance of the Olympic Truce.

Get Set to go for Truce - London 2012

The OLOS Foundation organizes “Bike4truce” cycle tour from Malmedy (Belgium) to London .The caravan chassis bike4truce started on August 10 , 2013 travelling through the "Route des droits de l'homme", Belgium and arrived in London on August 16.
Once in London, Bike4truce riders and greeters have been welcome by Anti War Protesters at the Houses of Parliament , have been displaced by the Police and have anyway unrolled a huge banner that says:
Why is the Olympic Truce not respected?
Why have armed conflicts not been stopped?
During the bike4truce trip, the troupe directed by Peter Ranalli have been shooting videos that will feed a web documentary scheduled to be launched on June 2013.


 2011
  The General Assembly adopted resolution 66/5 on 17 October. In that resolution, the Assembly urged Member States to observe, within the framework of the Charter of the United Nations, the Olympic Truce, individually and collectively, throughout the period beginning with the start of the Games of the XXX Olympiad, on 27 July, and ending with the close of the XIV Paralympic Games, on 9 September, the vision of which is to inspire lasting change.
  The OLOS Foundation actively asks the international community to support discussion inciting future Olympic Truce resolutions being passed through the United Nations Security Council, as opposed to the General Assembly as Olympic Truce resolutions are adopted through at the present. What is unique about a binding Olympic Truce resolution is that it might just work.
 2010
  Each Games has its own interpretation of the Olympic Truce. For Vancouver 2010, athletes set aside their political, religious and social differences and competed on a level playing field in the pursuit of excellence. And to make this message more relevant to everyday individuals, beyond the athletes and participants, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) created the Make Your Peace program.  The Make Your Peace Program has extended the Olympic values of friendship and respect through an open invitation to make your peace. In essence, individuals are encouraged to create everyday peace at home, school, work and in the community, based on the belief that lasting peace starts at the local level. A uniquely Canadian interpretation of a truce “wall” in the athletes’ villages was provided by VANOC. At past Games, the wall has largely been a place for athletes and officials to sign declarations endorsing the United Nations Truce Resolution and the principles embodied in the truce. The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Truce installations has been located in the Vancouver and Whistler athletes’ villages and unveiled to the athletes prior to the start of the Olympic Winter Games. Read the resolution for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/64/4)
  2008
  During the opening ceremony at the Olympic Games in Beijing, the international community, in particular the United Nations, expressed many positive comments on the importance of the Games and the value of sport altogether to promote development and peace world-wide. Read the United Nations Secretary General’s message
  The Peace and Friendship Wall was inaugurated on 1st August in the Beijing Olympic Village, in presence of the IOC and BOCOG Presidents and numerous invitees from the Olympic Movement. Hundreds of athletes, officials and visitors added their signature and showed their support to the Olympic Truce ideal throughout the Games.
  2007
 The 62nd UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the Olympic Truce in preparation for the Olympic Games in Beijing. Read the original document ( http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N07/464/01/PDF/N0746401.pdf?OpenElement)
  2006
  During the Opening of the Olympic Winter Games in Turin, IOC President Jacques Rogge launched a strong appeal for peace, backed up by an impressive dove composed of human bodies and a peace song sung on stage by Yoko Ono and Peter Gabriel.
  2005
  The 60th UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the Olympic Truce in preparation for the Olympic Winter Games in Turin. Read the original document ( http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N05/488/02/PDF/N0548802.pdf?OpenElement )
2004
 More than 300 world wide personalities have signed the Truce appeal. Many of them also signed the Truce Wall created by the Greek Government during the 2004 Athens Games.
  2003
  The 58th UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the Olympic Truce in preparation for the Olympic Games in Athens. Read the original document (http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N03/453/27/PDF/N0345327.pdf?OpenElement )
   2001
  The 56th UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the Olympic Truce in preparation for the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Read the original document ( http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N01/489/96/PDF/N0148996.pdf?OpenElement)
   2000
  In 2000, the International Olympic Truce Centre and International Olympic Truce Foundation were formed. As proof of the solidarity of the Olympic Truce, the North and South Korean delegates walked into the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Sydney under the same flag. Delegates have been working ever since to promote the importance of the Olympic Truce as well as the idea of peace not only in the world of sports but around the globe in general.
  The United Nations Millenium Summit held in New York from 6 to 8 September 2000, which gathered more than 150 Heads of State and Government, adopted a Millennium declaration that included a paragraph on the observance of the Olympic Truce. During the Opening Ceremony of the Games of the XXVII Olympiad in Sydney, the South and North Korean delegations paraded in the stadium together under the flag of the Korean peninsula.
  1999
  180 United Nations Member-States, a record number, co-sponsor a resolution in support of the observance of the Olympic Truce during the Games of the XXVII Olympiad in Sydney, Australia. Read the original document ( http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N00/237/99/PDF/N0023799.pdf?OpenElement )
  1998
  Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs George Papandreou presents the proposal of Greece for the institutional consolidation of Olympic Truce in the new millennium to the members of the International Olympic Committee. The observance of Olympic Truce according to United Nations resolutions offers an opportunity to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to intervene to seek a diplomatic resolution to the crisis in Iraq. During the month of February 1998, the Nagano Winter Olympic Games were at their height. Amidst fear that a US-led invasion of Iraq could endanger the security of not only U.S. athletes, but all competitors and participants from around the world gathered in Nagano for the Games, the International Olympic Committee was one of the first to rally behind the United Nations Olympic Truce resolution to maintain peace during the period of the Games. The International Olympic Committee made this appeal with utmost diplomacy: While stressing that they were not attempting to influence American foreign policy, [Olympic] officials said they hoped that the United States and other countries that have signed a United Nations resolution pledging peace during the Winter and Summer Olympics would adhere to their pledges.(Burleson, Cindy: The ancient Olympic Truce in modern-day peacekeeping, revisiting ekeckeria -2011_Tf-J Chicago-Uk Endnotes-Bib.RTF)
 1997
  The resolution of the 52th Session of the United Nations General Assembly supports the idea of building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic Ideal. Read the original document (http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N97/776/05/PDF/N9777605.pdf?OpenElement )
  1996
  The "Athens 2004" bid committee makes a commitment to revive the Olympic Truce and to promote it in the world through the Olympic Flame Relay.
  1995
  The resolution of the 50th Session of the United Nations General Assembly supports the idea of building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic Ideal. The IOC president attended the UN General Assembly for the first time in history. Read the original document ( http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/48/a48r011.htm)
  1994
  The Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway, revive hope in conflict-torn Sarajevo, host city of the 1984 Olympic Winter Games. After coordinated diplomatic efforts, the Olympic Truce is observed, giving the opportunity to an International Olympic Committee delegation headed by its president to visit the city and extend its solidarity to the population. Beginning in 1994, the President of the General Assembly began making a Solemn Appeal for the observance of a truce during the Olympics
  1993
  Starting 1993, the General Assembly of the United Nations has regularly expressed its support - one year prior to each edition of the Olympics - through an ad hoc resolution inviting Member States to observe the Truce and solemnly recognize its importance. Since 2000 this has been enshrined in a special paragraph of the Millennium Declaration. During its 48th Session, the United Nations General Assembly urges its Member States to observe the Olympic Truce. Read the original document ( http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/48/a48r011.htm)
 1992
 After a period of repeated boycotts, the Games of the XXVth Olympiad in Barcelona finally brought together athletes from the entire world and enabled South Africa, after an absence of 27 years and following the abolition of the ignoble policy of apartheid, to return to the Olympic movement in the presence of President Nelson Mandela, a personality of universal charisma and the incarnation of the struggle against all forms of racial discrimination. Thus, in 1992, IOC launched an appeal for the observance of the Olympic Truce in the interests of dialogue, reconciliation and peace throughout the world.
This was the framework within which the IOC succeeded in enabling Yugoslav athletes to attend the Games of the XXVth Olympiad in Barcelona, under the Olympic flag, without any indication of nationality and despite the embargo imposed by the United Nations Security Council.
The IOC also reached an understanding with the states of the former Soviet Union whereby they were able to participate as a single team.

 1896
  As the pioneer of the modern Olympic Games Pierre de Coubertin incorporated the idea of peace in this movement.  Coubertin was convinced that peace education could only be effective if theoretical learning was accompanied by personal experience. Olympic sport was the very means to achieve this aim. Sport in the sense should become an instrument to reform economy and politics and thus society as a whole: “The Olympic Games will be a potent, if indirect factor in securing universal peace”.  “Wars break out because nations misunderstand each other. We shall not have peace until the prejudices which now separate the different races shall have been outlived. To attain this end, what better means than to bring the youth of all countries periodically together for amicable trials of muscular strength and agility?” (Pierre de Coubertin 1896).  Coubertin was convinced that peace education could only be effective if theoretical learning was accompanied by personal experience. Olympic sport was the very means to achieve this aim. Sport in the sense should become an instrument to reform economy and politics and thus society as a whole: “[…] the Olympic Games will be a potent, if indirect factor in securing universal peace”. (2000_MÜLLER, N. (Ed.). Pierre de Coubertin. Olympism. Selected Writings. Lausanne).

 Athens organizes the first Olympic Games of the modern era in 1896 . The Games of the I^st Olympiad - were a landmark in the history of Olympism as the first Olympic Games of the modern era.  The first celebration of the modern Olympic Games took place in its ancient birthplace of Athens. The Games attracted 241 athletes from 14 nations, with the largest delegations coming from Greece, Germany, France and Great Britain. Evaluating and looking back on the Games of 1896 Coubertin writes in more realistic tones: “ One may be filled with a desire to see the colors of one’s club or college triumph in a national meeting, but how much stronger is the feeling when the colours of one’s own country are at stake! It was with these thoughts in mind that I sought to revive the Olympic games. I have succeeded after many efforts. [I hope] it may be a potent, if indirect, factor in securing international peace.”
  1894
  The International Olympic Committee is established, with the goal of contributing to a peaceful future for humankind through the educational value of sport.
  776 BC
  According to legend, the ancient Olympic Games were founded by Heracles (the Roman Hercules), a son of Zeus. Yet the first Olympic Games for which we still have written records were held in 776 BCE (though it is generally believed that the Games had been going on for many years already). At this Olympic Games, a naked runner, Coroebus (a baker from Elis), won the sole event at the Olympics, the stade - a run of approximately 192 meters (210 yards). This made Coroebus the very first Olympic champion in history. From 776 BC Olympic Games were presumably held without fail. Greek historians used the Olympiads as a way of reckoning time that did not depend on the time reckonings of one of the city-states. (See Attic calendar.) The first to do so consistently was Timaeus of Tauromenium. Nevertheless, since for events in the early history of the games the reckoning was used in retrospect, even though Greek historians gave them dates later, it is not clear which events occurred during which Olympiad.
 An Olympiad started with the games, which were held at the beginning of the Olympic new year, which fell on the full moon closest to the summer solstice. (After the introduction of the Metonic cycle about 432 BC, the start of the Olympic year was determined slightly differently). If you want to know more, see: Valerie Vaughan The Origin of the Olympics: Ancient Calendars and the Race Against Time . http://www.onereed.com/articles/vvf/olympics.html

 A truce (in Greek, ekecheiria, which literally means "holding of hands") was announced before and during each of the Olympic festivals, to allow visitors to travel safely to Olympia. An inscription describing the truce was written on a bronze discus which was displayed at Olympia. During the truce, wars were suspended, armies were prohibited from entering Elis or threatening the Games, and legal disputes and the carrying out of death penalties were forbidden. Another international truce was enforced during the annual Mysteries, a religious rite held at the major sanctuary site of Eleusis. The truces of Olympia and Eleusis not only allowed worshippers and athletes to travel more safely; they also provided a common basis for peace among the Greeks. ( http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/truce.html )