Today, hundreds of Olympic athletes representing the athletes of the territories of all the 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Refugee Olympic Team made a powerful call for peace. Four days before the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games, they gathered in a solemn moment in the Olympic Village. Wearing scarfs with the message “Give peace a chance” and holding flags with the same words, they emphasised the powerful role that sport can play to foster peace and mutual understanding. The event included athletes from NOCs whose countries are currently in conflict or war with each other.