We humbly ask you to pass on this prayer to your teammates, friends, colleagues and loved ones, so that we may create a circle of loving energy around Greece and planet Earth throughout the Olympics... to protect, heal, lift humanity, and celebrate Who We Are!


Olympic Prayer for Peace and Protection of Greece...

As Earth’s most gifted athletes finish preparing for the games of the XXVIII Olympiad of 2004, let us give thanks to our Creator, Greek People, Olympic Family, and all our ancient ancestors, who helped create so many Olympic sports,* for giving us this wonderful opportunity to come together in joyful friendship and unity.

While we acknowledge the uncertainty around this planet, we call upon the Creator and Spirits of Peace to let these games proceed in harmony, safeguarding our Greek hosts, spectators and athletes, who are their people’s goodwill emissaries... Let the example of the respect for each other's diversity, culture, inspiring talents, gracious sportsmanship, and fair-play, of these heroic athletes, extend to all corners of Earth.

In the spirit of the Oracle of Delphi who helped save the Ancient Olympics ... by stopping all conflicts for 1,000 years, around the time of the games, we call on Humanity in Modern Times to rekindle and embrace that Olympic tradition around the world, starting now at the birthplace of the greatest force of peace and unity in history, Greece. Let's do this for the sake of all our beloved children.

According to the teachings of our ancient Indigenous ancestors, we are all related. Therefore, Creator please show us how we can each do our part to reach out and share the bonding high, understanding, appreciation, dignity, and health of sporting opportunities, to enrich and uplift the lives of our brothers and sisters, and welcome them into this Olympic circle. In nurturing, healing and helping each other's hearts soar, especially in the Great Outdoors, we ask you for your support to protect these Olympics, our families, and homelands. In so doing we are creating a sustainable, abundant quality of life for all Creators' children and creatures.

Let us all say Thank You to the Creator, Spirits of Peace, and the Olympic Athletes in our own languages. And thank you for helping the loving essence of the XXVIII Olympiad prevail on Mother Earth!

Malama a Pono, (Hawaiian for "Take Care")

Woody Vaspra, President of World Council of Elders ** (Hawaiian)
Suzy Chaffee, Olympic Skier, co-chair of Native American Olympic Team Foundation (NVF)***, and Team


* From "August 12 - TRIBAL GIFTS TO OLYMPICS" in Sportsfeatures.com (Olympic Press website), www.nativevoices.org, and Flash News, NATIVE AMERICAN OLYMPIC EVENTS AT GREECE.
**A global council of Indigenous Elders dedicated to preserving and sharing traditional wisdom to restore the balance of life on Earth for future generations.(http://www.worldcoucilofelders.org/)
***A partnership of U.S. and world tribal leaders, Olympians, and UN Eco Award winners...to preserve Nature's playgrounds for future generations through joyful sports.

Background: To safeguard the Salt Lake Olympics, at the suggestion of Chief Arvol Lookinghorse (Keeper of White Buffalo Prophesy Pipe), NVF and Sarah Pletts (Living Arts) organized an Olympic Protection Ceremony the day before the Opening Ceremonies, next to the World's Largest Teepee in Park City. The prayer was led by Northern Ute Host-Chairman Roland McCook, and supported by Abenaki Olympian Billy Kidd and Muhammad Ali - Suzy read his note saying, "I stand by my Native American brothers and sisters... Flashnews sent the story around the world. Other tribes, like the Hopis, led ceremonies at dawn in the Athletes Village. It worked!

Sportsfeatures version