What a spectacular opening ceremony it was yesterday! For my taste, it was actually a little too endeavoured, a little too politically correct and a little too little natural. But ok.
It could only have been even more spectacular if the idea of ἐκεχειρία could have been realised. If the participants of all nations could enjoy the tradition of the Olympic Truce (Olympischer Friede) ἐκεχειρία. The idea was established probably in Greece in the ninth century BC through the signing of a treaty between three kings – Iphitos of Elis, Cleosthenes of Pisa and Lycurgus of Sparta – to allow safe participation in the Olympic Games for all athletes and spectators from these Greek city-states, which were otherwise almost constantly engaged in conflict with each other.
How spectacular it would be if all nations were to follow this idea. If they really would support ἐκεχειρία and lay down their arms (the literally translation of the term). If all participants, athletes, and spectators were subjected to this Olympic Truce.
Then the Israeli President Herzog would not have to wait 40 minutes with his delegation on the plane on arrival in Paris so that they could disembark because the threat situation was so acute (https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/herzog-allowed-to-disembark-in-paris-after-being-held-on-plane-for-40-minutes-amid-security-scare/).
Then we wouldn't be talking about Munich 2.0 just because Israeli athletes are involved in sport (https://www.timesofisrael.com/we-will-repeat-munich-1972-israeli-olympic-athletes-threatened-ahead-of-paris-games/).
Then no death threat would be needed (https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/hybb8l5dc).
Then Israeli visitors to the Games would not have to be warned (https://www.timesofisrael.com/fm-says-iranian-terrorist-proxies-might-attack-israeli-athletes-tourists-in-paris/).
Then the Israeli secret service wouldn't have to arrive days in advance to protect their own delegation (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/07/20/israel-olympics-shin-bet-agents-street-gun-protect-athletes/).
And then there wouldn't have to be 45,000 security personnel on duty to protect the opening ceremony and then the beautiful city of Paris would not have had to turn into a fortress (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/25/world/olympics/olympics-paris-security-opening-ceremony.html).
If ἐκεχειρία had really happened, then I wouldn't find it so difficult that the torch relay is still celebrated as one of the magical moments. After all, this is not an ancient Greek tradition, but was invented for the 1936 Summer Games in Berlin. Carl Diem from Würzburg was a member of the organising committee at the time and thought it would be nice to give the Games a solemn character. So basically, the modern torch relay is an invention of the Nazi Games. Goebbels was immediately enthusiastic and so things took off in the truest sense of the word.
But so what? Let's live with the Nazi torch relay and the fact that although there is a lot of talk about ἐκεχειρία, it doesn't exist. The games will still be sporting, outstanding and special - but probably not as spectacular as I would like them to be. But you can still dream.
In addition to the big world stage, there were also a few things on a very small scale that I would like to share here. New articles by me have been published and can be viewed here:
And the first galley proof of one of my projects was submitted to me for review. Unfortunately, the changes that had already been discussed were not incorporated. It really makes you wonder why you talk to each other at all if nothing is implemented. Oh yes, and the person who is now working on the project in the set is once again not responding to my enquiries. So, nothing new - waiting again.
At least I can spend my time watching the Olympics on TV. With this in mind, I wish us all:
Peaceful and spectacular games!