International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge on Friday made a call for global peace and unity at the unveiling of the Olympic Wall for Peace and Friendship.
During the Games, athletes, coaches, officials, dignitaries and visitors will be able to sign the wall in the Olympic Village's Peace Square.
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International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge (left), and Liu Qi, chairman of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, sign their names on the Wall for Peace and Friendship, which was unveiled in the Olympic Village's Peace Square on Friday. The IOC chief also wrote his name on the wall in Chinese characters. [Asianewsphoto]
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Rogge became one of the first to sign it on Friday.
The IOC chief also wrote his name on the wall in Chinese characters.
"The world today is a difficult place to live in with many armed conflicts between and within nations," Rogge said.
"This is definitely a message that is threatening, but there is an exception, and that exception is the Olympic Village," he said.
Liu Qi, chairman of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), said the wall will leave a precious legacy and promote peace, friendship and global development.
The wall will remain standing after the conclusion of the Games, serving as a lasting monument to global peace and friendship.
The IOC renewed the ancient Greek tradition of the "Olympic truce" in 1992 and called on all nations to observe it during the Games.
The 192-member UN General Assembly made a similar call in a resolution adopted last October.
Rogge said national Olympic committees co-exist peacefully, irrespective of their ethnic origins, languages, political systems or religious beliefs.
During a tour of the Olympic Village on Friday afternoon, the IOC chief also called on athletes and officials to help those in need by supporting "Giving is Winning", a joint humanitarian project organized by the IOC and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Launched in 1996, the project is designed to help people affected by war and natural disasters.
He said he hopes the 16,000 athletes in the village can each donate at least one item of sports apparel to the project, and expressed his wish that as many as 48,000 items are collected.
A "Play Safe - Help Stop HIV" campaign was also launched on Friday, supported by Egyptian swimming legend Rania Elwani and Chinese basketball giant Yao Ming.
"Especially famous athletes can play an important role in getting across messages about HIV prevention, care and support as they are regarded as role models by young people" Rogge said in a statement.
"Olympic athletes are helping break down barriers of stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV," Dr Peter Piot, UNAIDS executive director, said.