Games of peace: Fair play, fair game

Editor's note: Decision Makers is a global platform for decision makers to share their insights on events shaping today's world. 

By Ruggero Alcanterini 

If sport is a metaphor for human life, then Olympism and the Olympic Games risk becoming its paradox, where the principles it is founded upon reveal themselves as utopian.

With the opening of the 33rd Summer Olympic Games, our focus is on the competitive and spectacular prospects of the event. Yet, the foundational assumptions, the substantial values tied to the principles of the Olympic Truce as a preamble to peace, are relegated to mere formality, despite the ritualistic pronouncement of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) with the resolution "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal," voted almost unanimously.

Since 1896, the Olympic Games have provided a unique opportunity for peoples worldwide to meet and seek agreements rather than fuel disputes. Based on past experiences, it is crucial to take concrete actions to foster this spirit and to sincerely emphasize the cultural and political significance of the Olympics, given the extraordinary platform they offer.

The Olympic Truce envisions the suspension of all conflicts from seven days before the opening of Paris 2024, July 26, to seven days after the conclusion of the Summer Paralympic Games on September 8. Given the current state of affairs, it seems highly unlikely that this could happen.

Special skills and resources may be needed to address particularly critical situations. In the past, figures like Juan Antonio Samaranch, former International Olympic Committee president, managed to overcome the obstructive and insidious aspects of the Cold War. Today, similar efforts are necessary to ensure that sport and Olympism maintain their primary role as a bridge between differing opinions and interests.

Sport and Olympism are fundamental for education and the quality of physical and social life worldwide. All countries invest in this field, but perhaps it is time to take a step further and get to the heart of the matter. We need to ask if we should shed unnecessary embellishments and focus on the common good of brotherhood and friendship based on merit, competence, talent and respect for the rules.

Returning to the role of the UN, there is a new development: On the first day of July this year, less than a month before the Olympic Games in Paris, the UNGA decided to officially designate May 19th as World Fair Play Day, effective from 2025 onwards. The message derived from this is clear, not only for the Anglo-Saxon cultural area and not only for the sports world. The principles of fair play were conceived as a representation of honest and equitable behaviors by the great poet and playwright William Shakespeare, who wrote numerous works between the 16th and 17th centuries and popularized the term "fair play" in dramas like "King John" and "The Tempest."

Shakespeare's concept of respect and adherence to rules, known as "fair play," keenly addressed human frailties through his comedic characters. This idea of fair play has thus become a model of virtuous practice in both sports and life. In 1975, the Fair Play Charter, containing the "Ten Commandments" of international sport, was adopted by the International Fair Play Committee. Although these principles have evolved over the years, their core values remain the same: Play for fun; play fair; respect the rules of the game; respect teammates, opponents, referees and spectators; accept defeat with dignity; reject doping, racism, violence and corruption; be generous to others, especially those in need; help others persevere through difficulties; denounce those who try to discredit sport; honor those who defend the Olympic spirit of sport.

Finally, we should consider if it is time to change the rhythm and rules of the game. Baron de Coubertin's project for the Modern Olympics, conceived in France and born in Athens in the 19th century, is extraordinary. However, it needs a targeted update for the 21st century. This update would help share its universal values and opportunities more widely, making it a permanent symbol of peace.

At the Olympic Games, flags wave and anthems play, highlighting a medal table that represents not only merit but also the power of diversity. Do we want to reduce doping? Eliminate political interference and international intrigues? Let's pursue the path of utopia, bringing sport and the Olympic Games back to a more grounded dimension. We should celebrate the inner beauty and ethical qualities of humanity, enabling everyone in the world to be recognized and respected, regardless of their social status.

Ruggero Alcanterini is the president of the National Italian Fair Play Committee (CNIFP).