Athletica Vaticana reminds Olympic athletes of their great responsibility
As the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris approaches, Athletica Vaticana encourages athletes to show fraternal friendship and reiterates Pope Francis’ call for an Olympic truce.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov
“The Olympic and Paralympic Games can be strategies for peace and antidotes to war games.”
This is the message conveyed by Athletica Vaticana, the official sports association of the Holy See, in an open letter sent to the athletes participating in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
In the text published on the eve of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, the Association encourages athletes to move forward in their fair play and their success with a spirit of fraternity and proximity.
“With the beauty and fairness of each person’s sporting gesture, and without ever resorting to shortcuts,” Athletica Vaticana affirmed, “the Games can be occasions for hope.”
Olympic Truce
Athletica Vaticana has lamented that this year’s Olympics are taking place amid global wars, tensions and injustices, denouncing a “dark period for humanity.” The association reiterated Pope Francis’ call for an Olympic truce.
Calling on sport to welcome efforts to promote peace, the Association stressed that while athletes cannot stop what Pope Francis calls “the third world war being waged little by little,” they are nevertheless capable of cultivating a more fraternal humanity.
The popular and understandable language of sport, as well as its values, Athletica Vaticana stresses, all contribute to this objective.
“Marathon of life”
“Every training session, every challenge overcome, every moment of difficulty faced with courage, that has brought you to the Olympic Games, is not just a victory or a defeat, but a journey through life that is never done alone,” the letter reads.
Athletica Vaticana concluded by inviting all Olympic athletes to win, together, “the medal of fraternity”, in an embrace of sporting friendship and gratitude.
