International Judicial Monitor
Published by the International Judicial Academy, Washington, D.C., with assistance from the
American Society of International Law
Summer 2016 Issue
 

100 Ways

 

International Law: One Hundred Ways It Shapes Our Lives

100 WaysWatching, Attending, or Participating in a Fairer Olympics.

By: Jason K. Everett, Staff Writer, International Judicial Monitor

(In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the American Society of International Law in 2006, the Society published a pamphlet titled International Law: One Hundred Ways It Shapes Our Lives. The introduction gives an explanation for its conception: an affirmation that: “international law not only exists, but also penetrates much more deeply and broadly into everyday life than the people it affects may generally appreciate.” This column seeks to elucidate and elaborate on many of the 100 ways briefly presented in the ASIL pamphlet.)

Beyond the controversies of corruption, unsportsmanlike behavior, and doping lies a time-honored tradition of cooperation and peace between nations to facilitate the Olympic Games.

The Olympic Truce, as old as the Games themselves, is intended to afford safe and unimpeded travel to and from the Olympics for athletes, spectators, and all others who wish to make the pilgrimage to the Games.  Beginning seven days prior to the opening ceremonies, lasting throughout, and ending seven days following the closing ceremonies of the Paralympic Games, the Olympic Truce is the embodiment of the spirit of international sportsmanship, cooperation, and peace.

In October of 2015 the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly approved the resolution to observe the Olympic Truce for the Games of the XXXI Olympiad.  Of the 193 Member States, 180 supported the resolution.  The President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, noted that “[t]he Olympic Games are the time when the values of tolerance, solidarity, and peace are brought to life.  This is the time when the international community comes together for peaceful competition.”  He added, “In the Olympic Village, we see tolerance and solidarity in their purest form.  Athletes from all 206 National Olympic Committees live together in harmony without any kind of discrimination.  This is the true spirit of ‘Olympic Unity in Diversity’ – athletes from every corner of the world, living together under one roof.”

President Bach’s remarks underscore an exceptionally important and often overlooked aspect of the Olympics and international sport in general.  Amidst the din of doping scandals, corporate sponsorships, the burdens placed upon the host nation, and other “flashy” headlines is the value the Olympics plays in international relations and development.  Since their inception the Olympic Games have been one of the most powerful tools in the struggle to promote international understanding, cooperation, unity, and peace.

  

On an individual level, athletes’ interactions at the Games and within the Olympic Village can provide a fertile foundation for international political change.  When individuals begin to communicate with fellow athletes from across the globe based on a mutual trust, respect – and, of course, healthy competition – rather than following the lines of broader political discourse, a space for dialogue – on both an individual and national scale – is opened that would otherwise be unavailable.

Expanding on this, there is strong evidence to suggest that sport and sports programs can contribute significantly to sustainable development and peace.  As a consequence, there is an increasing recognition of the benefits that sport provides.  International humanitarian programs that employ sport as a means of encouraging or enhancing development are becoming more common.

Sport has the ability to bring diverse groups together under a common framework.  As a direct result of this, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) now recognizes sport as a human right.  UNESCO asserts that the principles of sport – teamwork, fairness, respect for opponents, and honoring the rules of the game – are consistent with the Charter of the United Nations.

The United Nations recognizes the value of sport in addressing the U.N.’s Millennium Development Goals by promoting health and disease prevention; poverty reduction; universal education; gender equality; conflict prevention and resolution; response to trauma; and community mobilization.  Sports-related initiatives have been successfully implemented with refugees, persons with disabilities, child soldiers, and other vulnerable populations.

Of course, a key player in these initiatives is the International Olympic Committee – the “supreme authority of the Olympic movement” – which acts as a catalyst between National Olympic Committees, International Sports Federations, and organizing committees for the Games, as well as all other facets of the Olympic family.   In addition to organizing the Summer and Winter Olympic Competitions, the IOC is heavily involved in designing sports-related programs to respond to international crises.

The Olympics, despite its many controversies, remains an important catalyst for international cooperation, peace, and development.  Even the slightest modicum of civility is invaluable in a tortured world.

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© 2016 – The International Judicial Academy
with assistance from the American Society of International Law.

Editor: James G. Apple.
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