Peace is the central message of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. The Olympic flame -- the symbol of that message -- will be extinguished late Sunday night (early Monday in Japan), about five months after it was lit in Olympia, the site of the ancient Olympics. In a world riven with hatred and violence, though, the Olympic spirit of peace must be kept burning.
The message was conveyed worldwide as the Olympic torch was relayed across five continents, for the first time, over a period of one month from early June. The significance of the message was reinforced with the return of the Olympics to Greece, its birthplace, after 108 years.
In ancient Greece, wars between poleis, or city-states, were suspended during the Games, as all belligerents observed an "Olympic truce" for the benefit of athletes and spectators from across the land. A truce, Olympic or not, may not necessarily lead to permanent peace, but it can be a first important step toward ending hostilities.