During a time marred by endless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; when nations and cultures clash over nukes, oil and religion; and when things like political cartoons lead to killing and violence, it's doubtful that the Winter Olympics in Turin could have come at a better moment.

Amid the global tensions of the day, the world really needed a time to play. And the Olympics are the answer.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and President of the U.N. General Assembly Jan Eliasson seized on the games' importance by calling for U.N. member states to observe the Olympic Truce.

Too often, however, we replace real-life antagonisms with the sense of nationalism the games can inspire. The truce is a reminder that the games are played so that all countries, together, can showcase our shared values in sportsmanship, tolerance, and most of all, peace.

So while we root for our heroes like figure-skater Michelle Kwan, speed-skater Apolo Ohno, or local hopefuls like Kauai-born snowboarder Elena Hight, let's not forget the Olympic spirit.

The tone was set at last night's opening ceremonies, when the torch was lit and more than 2,500 athletes marched together to music from Pavarotti and the Village People. Three plainclothes security guards marching with the Danish team, the country involved in the cartoon imbroglio, couldn't mar the ceremonies. The Winter Olympics is the world's party --- our much needed break.