Truce and Periodicity

The idea of truce is another fundamental of the Olympic Philosophy and it is closely connected with that of rhythm.The four-yearly rhythm in which the Games have to be held rivals in its rigidity，the rhythm of the stars in their courses，since the Olympics constitute the quadrennial celebration of the springtime of human life and do honor to the coming of age of each successive generation of men.This explains why the rhythm of the Games has to be so rigorously maintained.Today，as in Ancient Greece，an Olympiad may remain uncelebrated if unforeseen circumstances arise to make it impossible，but neither the order nor the number of the Gamesmay even be changed.

4-5　Olympic Truce