By Lee Hana

On Nov. 13, the U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution calling on all nations to halt all disputes and hostilities during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, now just 88 days away.

The resolution, titled "Sport for development and peace: building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal," was adopted by consensus at the U.N.'s New York headquarters. It was drafted by Korea, the host of the upcoming Winter Olympics, and was endorsed by some 150 U.N. member states, including the U.S., China, Japan and Russia.

The resolution urges member states to observe the Olympic Truce throughout the PyeongChang Olympic period, from Feb. 2, 2018, seven days before the opening ceremony, until March 25, 2018, a week after the end of the Paralympic Games.

Moreover, it stresses that, "The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will be a meaningful opportunity to foster an atmosphere of peace, development, tolerance and understanding on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia."

The resolution also notes that the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games will be the first of three consecutive Olympic Games to be held in Northeast Asia, "offering possibilities for Korea, Japan and China to forge new partnerships in sports and in other areas."

After Pyeongchang, Tokyo will host the 2020 Summer Olympics, while Beijing will host the Winter Olympics in 2022.

This resolution, which specifically asks member states "to ensure the safe passage, access and participation of athletes, officials and all other accredited persons taking part in the Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Winter Games," has been adopted by the U.N. General Assembly every two years, before the start of both the Winter and Summer Olympic Games.

The resolution reaffirms that the Olympic values of peace, solidarity and respect are as important today as they were when the ancient Olympic Games first took place in Greece. The U.N. Olympic Truce resolution has been adopted before every Games since 1993.

hlee10@korea.kr