Reviving the Delphic Games for Global Peace
Last week, I received an invitation from Thomas Daffern, Coordinator of the International Delphic Academy, to attend a Zoom meeting focused on the reactivation of the Delphic Games in the lead-up to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The Delphic Games have a rich history dating back to ancient Greece. These events were held in honor of the god Apollo at his sanctuary in Delphi and included competitions in athletics, theater, music, poetry, and painting. The games were celebrated every four years until they were banned in 394 AD.
In the 20th century, efforts were made to revive the Delphic Games, shifting the focus to artistic, cultural, and scientific exchange. Today, the Delphic Games encompass diverse categories such as music, dance, theater, fashion design, and scientific disciplines, reflecting participants’ varied interests and talents from around the world.
In his email, Daffern emphasized the importance of repositioning the arts at the forefront of global peace efforts: “Can we afford to carry on with wars, nationalist, racist, economic, linguistic, and religious conflicts — when the planet is crying out for us to bury the hatchet and practice the arts of peace, international friendship, and solidarity instead?”
The International Delphic Academy (IDA) is a branch of the International Delphic Council (IDC), established in 1994. The IDA serves as a think-tank, promoting scientific research, historical documentation, and interdisciplinary studies of arts, culture, science, and technology. By fostering global cooperation and exchange, the IDA supports the IDC’s mission of promoting cultural dialogue, education, and peace through initiatives like the revival of the ancient Delphic Games.
Two nights ago, approximately 16 invitees from around the globe participated in a three-hour Zoom call, sharing our visions for the role of arts in fostering global peace. This opportunity to engage with an eclectic group of creatives from distant geographies is particularly exciting, as it aligns with my interest in nurturing curiosity, compassion, and imagination by working directly with communities. In fact, the concept for my Mindful Fusion framework emerged during this inspiring Delphic Academy discussion. I had the opportunity to test the response of a 170 people
strong audience in Hyderabad yesterday and the enthusiastic response supported my hypothesis that the world urgently needs and is ready for healing and regeneration.
