Japan(Tokyo) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on all parties to conflict to cease hostilities for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Guterres made the appeal in a video message released on Friday, Japan Time, seven days before the opening of the Tokyo Games.
The appeal is based on a UN resolution that urges member states to observe the Olympic Truce from the seventh day before the opening and the seventh day following the closing of each of the Games.
Guterres noted that athletes from around the world will come together in Japan for the Games, and they have had to overcome enormous obstacles to participate in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said, “We need to show the same strength and solidarity in our efforts to bring peace to our world.”
Guterres added, “People and nations can build on this temporary respite to establish lasting ceasefires and find paths towards sustainable peace.”
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