The 2010 Winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver and one important tradition they will uphold is the Olympic Truce. The mission of the Olympic Truce is to work for peace, friendship and international understanding. The truce urges humankind to put an end to war and embrace one another as the world comes together to participate in the games.

The Olympic Truce is a sacred Greek tradition, beginning in the 8th century BC. While Athens organized the first modern Olympic games in 1896, it wasn't until 1993 that the United Nations wanted its member states to observe the Olympic Truce. In 1994 their request was granted during the winter games in Lillehammer, Norway. It was during these games that the International Olympic Committee visited Sarajevo, showing its support for the conflict-torn country.

At the end of July 2000, the International Olympic Committee founded the Olympic Truce Centre, to serve as a headquarters for the Olympic Truce.   The Centre Administrative Headquarters is located in Athens, where the board works to promote the peaceful principles of the Olympic games.