Youthful Celebrations in Home of Olympics

(ATR) Thousands celebrate June 23 across Greece.

The Hellenic Olympic Committee reports that it organized events for the June 23 Olympic Day in three cities, Athens and Thessaloniki the two largest in Greece and Ancient Olympia, home of the Olympics.

Participation surpassed every expectation says the HOC in a release.

IOC President Thomas Bach’s Olympic Day message was included in each event. Commemorative hats and diplomas were given to participants.

The SNF Run was the biggest, organized by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation with the HOC. More than 5000 runners started from the Panathenaic Stadium and finished at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre. The Kids Athletics program was also held at the foundation. Olympic champions and other athletes held classes for the young people.

In Athens, the COSMOGYM Festival & Contest, held at the Peristeri Indoor Hall, a venue from the 2004 Olympics. More than 1100 young gymnasts took part. Thanassis Vassileiadis, president ofthe Hellenic Gymnastics Federation, spoke, as did HOC President Spyros Capralos.

In addition, children in the summer camp "5 Rings" celebrated the Olympic day at the Olympic Stadium in Athens with Olympic champions, Nikos Syranidis, Niki Bakoyannis and Olga Vasdeki. HOC member Yiannis Karras was there.

"Great enthusiasm" reported from the celebrations organized in Ancient Olympia by the municipality of Olympia. On hand for the event were HOC Secretary General Manolis Kolymbadis and Fani Petralia and Giorgos Alikakos, members of the HOC.

In Thessaloniki the Kids Olympics simulation of Olympic sports was held at the city’s Olympic Museum.

Approximately 100 children from Nea Ionia Sports Club experienced climbing, mountaineering, swimming and beach handball in the region of Schinias and Parnitha.

More than 50 students visited the Kalamaki Naval Club with their physical education teachers for a first taste of Olympic sailing.

Olympic Day is marked June 23, date of the founding of the IOC in 1894.

Written by Ed Hula.

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