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An appeal to end conflicts across the world is due to be made on Wednesday by the President of the General Assembly ahead of the Winter Olympic Games. John Ashe will follow a tradition started in 1994 in which the President of the Assembly makes a Solemn Appeal for the observance of a truce during the Olympics. The games begin in Sochi in Russia on 7 February. The Olympic Truce is based on an ancient Greek tradition, dating back to the ninth century B.C. It calls for peace to be observed for seven days before, during and seven days after the games take place. It was introduced so that athletes and visitors could travel safely to the Olympics and afterwards return to their countries.