In an atmosphere of enthusiasm, fellowship, respect and emotion, the three-day events of the SYMPOLITIOS OLYMPIA AMKE in Ilia for the “Road to Truce 2026″ concluded on Sunday for the 11th year.
Runners from all over Greece, but also from 16 countries, marched the 50 kilometers of the “Truce Trail” from the host city of the ancient Olympic Games, Ancient Elis, to the place where the Games were held, Ancient Olympia.
The runners started on Sunday 26 April 2026at 05:45 in the morning, from the entrance of the Old Museum of Ancient Elis. They passed through the villages of Daphne, Keramidia, Dafniotissa, Peristeri, Chimadio, Sopi, Karatoula, Magoula, Latzoi, Herakleia, Pournari, Pelopio and Platanos and finished at the Old Town Hall of Ancient Olympia where they were awarded their prizes.
About 500 runners from Greece and abroad took part in the “Truce Road 2026”, as every year. This year, runners from Canada, Britain, Italy, Germany, France, Ukraine, China, Romania, Venezuela, Mexico, Bulgaria, Moldova, Bosnia, Spain, Sweden, Sweden, Bulgaria, Bulgaria, Turkey and Ukraine participated in this year’s race, spreading the message of Peace in the best way possible, as its “messengers”.
The “Truce Road 2026” was held on the Ilida – Olympia Ecotourism Route: the “Truce Path” was not a race and the runners who completed the 50 km route were awarded with unique numbered medals.
The Peace March this year was led by runner and author George Pantazopoulos.
Attending the event were:the MP for Ilia Dionysis Kalamatianos, the director of the office of MP Michalis Katrinis and a representative of the office of MP Andreas Nikolakopoulos, the deputy regional governor Theod. Vassilopoulos, on behalf of the Mayor of Elis, the Councillor Konst. Koutroubis, the Deputy Mayor Arch. Olympia Antonis Chrysanthakopoulos, from the Chamber of Ilia S. Samsounis, the Olympic champion of wrestling Maria Louisa Vryoni, the world champions Maria Christoforidis (Weightlifting) and Maria Karpathaki (TaeKwonDo), the Forester of Pyrgos Mr. P. Lattas, etc.
In all the villages along the route, the residents – volunteers of the Truce Road once again showed that the philosophy of “Zeus the Stranger” still exists in the land that gave birth to the Olympic Games, offering local delicacies to the runners.
The three-day events
The three-day events that were part of the “Truce Road” started on Friday afternoon from Ancient Pisa and ended on Sunday with the Truce Road from Elis to Olympia.
Specifically:
The Road of Cleosthenes, from Ancient Pisa to Ancient Olympia (5km race) in honour of the King of Ancient PisaCleosthenes, who, together with Iphitus of Elis and Lycurgus of Sparta, established the institution of Truce.
Runners from Greece and from 11 foreign countries (Sweden, Moldova, Germany, Poland, Brazil, Uganda, Kenya, Taiwan, El Salvador, China and Lebanon), started on Friday afternoon from Ancient Pisa, They ran past the tombs of the Hellenodians, the temple of Demeter Hamni, in front of the International Olympic Academy, next to the ancient Stadium of Olympia and finished at the entrance of the City Hall of Ancient Olympia.
The top three women are:
- TSOUKALA KONSTANTINA
- KAROLINAPIETRASZEK (Poland)
- KLERONOMOU GEORGIA
The top three men are:
- GIANNIKOPOULOS ELIAS
- MUKASANATHANMAYEGA (Uganda)
- FRAYURIBAI (China)
The event, which took place with the decisive contribution of the ASAED, was attended by the President of the Municipal District of Pissa SofoklisSofianopoulos, the Deputy Mayor of Ancient Olympia Mr. Antonis Chrysanthakopoulos, the Olympic Champion Mrs. Maria Louisa Vryoni and the 4 times World Champion of Weightlifting Mrs. Maria Christoforidi.
At the awards ceremony, the National Organization for the Prevention and Treatment of Addictions (EOPAE) had an information booth, which distributed information material and souvenirs.
The RUN OF THE JEW was held on Saturday afternoon in Ancient Elis. The young runners started from the square of Elis and finished at the Modern Theatre of Ancient Elis, in a 2 km race. All the children were honored with a medal and souvenirs.
But especially honored were the first, a boy and a girl:
Primary School:
- Agelatou Alkistis (3rd grade),
- Dmitris Zounos (6th grade) and
High School:
- Michalis Kalogeropoulos (1st High School), and
- Chrysa Kalogeropoulou (3rd High School).
The children were greeted and awarded with their medals by the Olympic Wrestling Champion Ms. Maria Louisa Vryoni, the World Champion of Weightlifting Ms. Maria Christoforidi and the World Champion of TAEKWONDO and #BEACTIVE ambassador Ms. Maria Karpathaki.
The opening ceremony took place on Saturday afternoon in Ancient Elis.
In her welcome speech the president of SYMPOLITIA OLYMPIA AMKE Sofia Hintziou – Kontogianni among others stressed:
“Today when Greece and the global community is living conditions similar to those that forced Iphitos, the King of Elis, to appeal to Pythia asking how the Greeks would unite, to receive the exhortation – oracle “renew theOlympic race”, today more than ever, it is necessary to implement the Truce as an Olympic value. Let us remember what unites us and not what divides us. The Truce must be highlighted and respect for it must become – as it was in antiquity – a prerequisite for participation in the modern Olympic Games”.
In her address, the President of the Municipal Council of Elis, Mrs. Theoni Georgopoulou, thanked the organizers and the runners for their participation, stressed the universality of the Olympic Truce, which today seems more relevant than ever, She pointed out the invaluable value that Ancient Elis in the world cultural map and stressed that the effort made by the “Olympia Sympolithia” should be further strengthened because it expresses the values of Olympism, which were born in this place.
The President of the Local District of Elis, Mr. Christos Gordoumbas referred to the value of Truce as a prerequisite for the existence of peace and highlighted the role of Ancient Elis in its promotion.
The opening ceremony ended with a concert where SidorelaSindy and Stavros Nathaniel sang, who roused the runners who participated with traditional and folk dances.
The opening ceremony was attended by the president of the Municipal Council of Elis, Mrs. Theoni Georgopoulou, the presidents of the local councils. Ilida Christos Gordoubas, the Councillor for Culture and Promotion of the Municipality of Ilida Magda Christodoulopoulou, the Olympic Wrestling Champion Mrs. Maria Louisa Vryoni, the World Champion of Weightlifting Mrs. Maria Christoforidi, the World Champion of TAEKWONDO Mrs. Maria Karpathaki, presidents of local cultural clubs, runners and many people.
The attendees were offered local delicacies by the Cultural Associations of Ancient Elis, the Kalyvia of Elis and Fileatos Avgeioi as well as the Association of Cleaners and Cleaners of School Buildings of the Prefecture of Elis.
All events were organized by the Sympolitia Olympia AMKE, with co-organizers the Region of Western Greece, the Municipalities of Elis, Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia, the Supreme Council of Sports of the Armed Forces (A.S.S.A.E.D.), the International Olympic Truce Centre, with the support of the Region of Attica and #BEACTIVE, are held under the auspices of the Ministries of National Defence, Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Rural Development and Food, Tourism, the Hellenic Tourism Organisation (E.O.T.), the Hellenic Association of Greek Olympic Winners (H.E.O.), voluntary support of the H.E.S. Volunteer Corps of Samaritans, Rescuers and Lifeguards of Amaliada Regional Department, Greek Red Cross Regional Department of Pyrgos, 1st Scout System of Ilioupolis, E.Vrahnaiiko, S.E.D.I.P. of West Achaia, communication sponsors ERT, ERT3, ERT Pyrgos, ERT SPOR 101.8, ERT NEWSRADIO105.8, PΣAT, RunningNews.gr, OVI and apopseis.gr.
Trying to keep alive in our memory the history and values of our country, we want to thank our supporters for their support and assistance, which contributes greatly to the promotion and achievement of our goal: The Main Supporter:TOURBOMED Yiannis Paraskevopoulos. TheOfficialSupporters:Nerathéoni, AVANCE car rental, KaraviasArtInsurance.TheSuppliers – Supporters: OLYMPIAODOS, GAIAOHOSCAPITALS.A., Xenia – TheHospitalityExperience, KTIMABRINTZIKI, X-TREMESTORES, BARAT biscuits, DOLE, Panaiyaleios Union of Cooperatives, National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (ETHEAS), KalomirisHELVIGAL, FargecoHellas, PANINIFOODS, Karnaros Bakery and Bioilis (BiologicalProducts – Olive Oil Trade).
The organizers would like to thank the Greek Police for the coordination and the safe conduct of the activities, the Emergency Medical Services, as well as the presidents of the Local Districts, the Cultural Associations and the residents of all the districts of the “Truce Trail” for the excellent hospitality provided to the runners of the “Truce Trail 2026”.
