Maritime, golf, passion, energy, ideal weather conditions, and absolute safety…

Glyfada Maritime Golf Event was the first golf tournament held in 2020, to take the new health conditions prevailing in our country into consideration. Top executives of the Greek and global shipping industry competed in the beautiful and historic Golf Course of Glyfada, on Saturday, October 10, 2020.

The event was held following the strict specifications set by the General Secretariat of Sports and the Hellenic Golf Federation. Always having the safety and health of all participants and staff as a top priority, Glyfada Maritime Golf Event executed an even stricter health protocol that was established by Active Media Group’s experienced staff certified by the World Health Organization, based on the guidelines of the special scientists-collaborators of the General Secretariat of Sports as well as the epidemiological data, the suggestions and the approval of the General Secretariat of Sports’ Health Committee. Specifically, among the safety measures that were implemented were: the mandatory use of a mask by the staff and the encouragement of its use by everyone, with its free provision by the organization, although several golfers entered the course already wearing a mask showing a high sense of individual responsibility, the temperature measurements of all by the team of Target Security, the maintenance of a list of people entering and exiting the golf facility, the service of participants with a Samsung tablet and use of gloves where necessary with the mandatory cleaning after each use, the disinfection of the event’s equipment, the maintenance of predicted distances throughout the tournament and the conservation of the predicted limit of people entering to the sports facility.

In the context of the 1st Glyfada Maritime Golf Event, the recognized PGA Golfer and tournament organizer, Thanos Karantzias stated: “I am delighted that the 1 st Glyfada Maritime Golf Event was held with absolute safety and based on the strict measures we had set, receiving the best reviews from the Greek and international maritime industry, offering moments of well-being and highlighting and promoting the sport we all love, golf. I would like to thank all the sponsors, supporters, and those who worked and stood by us from the very first moment. We are renewing our appointment with everyone for 2021”.

The 1st Glyfada Maritime Golf Event received the greeting of the Deputy Minister of Culture & Sports, Mr. Lefteris Avgenakis, who among other things highlighted: “In a very critical period, when sport on a world basis is tempted by the crisis of the pandemic, it is encouraging that sport and newly-founded indeed events are realized, such as the Glyfada Maritime Golf Event, which is addressed to the marine community. The holding of this event constitutes a unique chance for the highlighting of a special sport, which in recent years sees particular development and gradually wins the hearts of more and more Greek people”.

The Golf Action

The first tournament attracted the interest of the Greek and world shipping industry as its senior executives formed teams of four taking part in a shotgun scramble tournament, in a completely safe and ideal environment. A green space, set in a landscape of low hills, large trees, and low Mediterranean vegetation. The golfers competed at a team level, at the international standards 18-hole, par 72, Golf Course of Glyfada.

Non-participants in the tournament had the opportunity to attend golf lessons and take part in the golf clinic under the guidance of professional golfers.

The tournament concluded with the awarding of prizes to the teams that took the top three places in the overall standings of the tournament and the special awards given to the players who achieved the best scores in the “Longest Drive” and “Closest to the Pin” special categories. Specifically, the team of Sorotos, Chrousalas, Emmanuel, and Morris finished 1 st with 104 points, the team of Papadopoulos, Robbs, Kyvernitis, and Ventouris was 2 and with 103 points while the team of Robbs, Coustas, Daskalakis, and Kechagias received the 3 rd place with 96 points. The Closest to the pin award was given to Charalampos Ventouris whereas the Longest Drive award was won by Stergios Kavalekas.

The schedule of the event was enriched with special gifts from sponsors and surprises for participants. In particular, the winners of the special categories and the first three teams were offered prizes by Samsung, Porsche Center Glyfada, Christhellas-Christofle, Messinian Spa, and Ergon. In addition, a lucky winner won a test-drive and of course the experience of the Porsche Panamera Turbo S e-Hybrid Sport Turismo for an entire weekend, after a draw. During the event, participants tested the full range of Porsche cars that were available in the Glyfada Golf course parking space, while also having the opportunity to discover the new all-electric Taycan inside the golf course.

Jotun Hellas is the event’s Platinum Sponsor.

Samsung and The Marshall Islands Registry IRI are the tournament’s Silver Sponsors.

Porsche Center Glyfada is the Official Car Partner.

Marine Tours is the Official Travel Partner.

Tototheo Maritime and Handy Chart are the event’s Supporters.

Avance is the Official Rental Partner.

Boo Productions is the Audio Visual Partner.

Target Security is the Security Partner.

Messinian Spa is the Official Beauty Partner.

Hygeia is the Medical Partner.

Costa Navarino, Athina Luxury Suites, Christhellas–Christofle, Domotel Kastri, Ergon, Kokotos Estate, Athi Rodi, Kayak, Stella Artois, Cortese Caffe, Zafeiris Liquor Store, and Automotive Solutions are the event’s Partners.

Active Media Group is responsible for the tournament’s Sports Production.

Photo Credit: Boo Productions

All proceeds from entry fees were allocated for the improvement of the facilities of Glyfada Golf course. The tournament was organized by Active Media Group, an initiative of Birdie Events and the recognized Greek PGA golfer, Mr. Thanos Karantzias. The event was exclusively addressed to distinguished executives of the Greek shipping community.

Hashtag: #glyfadamaritimegolfevent

Last week, Condé Nast Traveler (CNT) published the 2020 Readers' Choice Awards survey results. Folegandros, Zakynthos, Crete, and Mykonos, dominated the Europe list of the 35 World's Best Islands outside the United States.

For its 33rd Readers' Choice Awards, Condé Nast Traveler invited 600,000 travelers to an online vote for the Top Islands in 6 areas – Asia, Australia, & the South Pacific, the Caribbean & the Atlantic, Africa & the Indian Ocean, Europe, and North America.

The magazine's readers voted Folegandros as the best island in Europe! Folegandros is a remote island of unique natural beauty and a laid-back atmosphere that has become a favorite for those seeking an authentic Greek island experience.

"Craving Santorini's famous whitewashed houses and cobblestoned streets, but without all of the crowds? Look no further than Folegandros, Santorini's smaller neighbor to the northwest by some 40 miles, which has all that and more. During the day, visit the island's most famous monument, Chrysospiliá ("Golden Cave"); if it's remote beaches you're after, try Agios Georgios or Ambeli," CNT published.

To read this article in full, please visit: greekcitytimes.com

The Keramikos Cemetery in Athens was home to the city's famous workshops, where all sorts of craftsmen exhibited and sold their work. That was 2,500 years ago. Fast forward to today, Mon Coin Studio, just a few steps away from the ancient cemetery, takes on the task of introducing contemporary Greek ceramics to the Greek audience and visitors. For its debut event, Ancient Vibes in Contemporary Ceramics, owner and ceramic artist Eleonore Trenado – Finetis has invited 35 artists and makers to participate with works that tap into ancient ceramics traditions and mythical narratives for inspiration, exploring how the “echo” of ancient Greek art resonates in contemporary creations. The works reflect on classical antiquity, the Minoan civilization, Cycladic art, and the works of primitive communities. The exhibition will also feature works by designers, jewelry designers, photographers, and visual artists. If ceramics ever knocked on your door, asking for a bit of your creativity and spare time, this sounds like the perfect time to answer.

Rising art star Joy Labinjo has made a name for herself by painting it black. This young London-based artist produces many of her large-scale figurative works from photographs of her Nigerian family and the everyday people around her.

In an art form historically overrun by white males, Labinjo is among a new wave of women of color figurative artists helping to redress the imbalance. It figures that this in-demand artist would be snapped up by The Breeder for her first solo exhibition in Athens.

Labinjo created this new body of work while under lockdown in the UK in the crucible of mass protests around Black Lives Matter. Fresh and arresting, her creations echo her dual identity: growing up Black, British, Nigerian in the 90s and early Noughties. You’ll see these intimate paintings, alongside works Labinjo made on paper in Athens while participating in The Breeder’s Open Studio program - where visitors were able to meet the artist and observe her in action.

Dates & Hours

Tuesday – Friday 12.00-20.00; Saturday 12.00-18.00 

Theorimata, the exhibition/institution by AICA Hellas, the Greek Section of the International Association of Art Critics, AICA International, is presented for the second time at the National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens (EMST), from October 1 until November 1, 2020, in the EMST Temporary Exhibitions Space.

The first exhibition was presented in 2018 with the aim to become a biennial event, providing the chance for curators, critics, art history scholars, and also artists to converse, collaborate and intervene in the artistic field; the theme of “Theorimata” will be differentiated each time, focusing on the characteristics and major issues of each period.

For the exhibition Theorimata 2: On History, 25 curators, scholars and art critics, members of the Greek Section of AICA, propose 56 artists who, with History as their axis, promote the function of art as an alternative educational tool and a means of dynamically intervening in the social fabric.

The idea that the knowledge of the past is an aid to the interpretation of the present and a guide to the future, asserted by Thucydides in his first book on the History of the Peloponnesian War, runs through the exhibition in which installations, constructions, sculptures, photographs, paintings, artists’ books, drawings, videos, and happenings are presented.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a bilingual catalog (in Greek and English) with introductory texts by Bia Papadopoulou and Emmanuel Mavrommatis, texts by the curators, photographs of the works, and biographies of both the curators and artists.

The collective volume Kritiki+Techni (Criticism+Art) Vol. 6: Contemporary Art and the Archive: Archival Collections, Artistic Practices, Reflections (edited by Charis Kanellopoulou) will also be published.

The Greek National Opera presents Madama Butterfly throughout October and November in Athens at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center’s main stage.

An opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini, Madama Butterfly is set in Japan at the beginning of the 20th century. A young geisha girl falls in love with an American Lieutenant which ultimately leads to her demise.

Puccini’s Japanese tragedy sheds light on the stark differences between the two cultures of Japan and America through the tale of fatal love.

Directed by Hugo de Ana with Puccini’s melodic composition led by conductor Lukas Karytinos and world-class soprano’s Ermonelo Jaho, Tselia Kostea, and Kristine Opolais sharing the title role.

Madama Butterly will be performed in Italian with Greek and English subtitles.

Dates & Hours

10, 11, 14, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 30 October 2020

01, 08, 15 November 2020

Performances start at 20:00 (Sunday’s at 18:30pm)

Are you looking for an interesting place to visit that is both outdoors and close to Athens? I suggest a visit to the archaeological site of Vravrona in southeast Attica.  The landscape here is diverse with vineyards, pistachio trees, pine trees, olive orchards, and rocky shores.

As you near the ancient site, you’ll encounter fruit and vegetable stands where the produce is grown just meters away from the stand. Near to the archaeological site of Vravrona there is a large parking area.

As you enter the grounds on foot, after about 50 meters you’ll find the museum on your left. If you keep walking down the path for another 100-150 meters or so, you’ll reach the archaeological grounds. The entrance fee is 6 euro for adults and free for children. This ticket includes a visit to both the museum and the archaeological site. Inside the museum, of course, you’ll need to wear a mask and no more than a certain number of people are allowed in each of the museum’s rooms, to maintain a safe distance from others.

 

The museum is small, clean, and well organized. There are five large rooms that feature archaeological finds not only from Vravrona but from surrounding areas as well, including Anavyssos and Perati. The exhibits cover the period from the Bronze Age until the Roman times. You’ll see vases, idols, and statues of young boys and girls.

The sculptures from the sanctuary of Artemis are of the most important finds. A few tactile sculptures have also been created to provide access to the original artwork for visitors with low vision or blindness. 

The ancient temple of Artemis was an important sacred site in ancient times. In the Doric-style temple, the goddess was worshipped and considered to be the protector of nature and women, as well as protector of childbirth. Women who had good deliveries would offer clothes and other personal items to the goddess Artemis. 

If you take a walk through the prehistoric acropolis above the temple of Artemis, you will get a panoramic view of the Erasinos valley and the surrounding area. 

You can also walk from the Vravrona Museum to the mavros vrachos [μαύρος βράχος] or ‘black rock,’ a low mountain beside the Erasinos River estuary. From here there is a great view of the wetlands and the southern Euboean Gulf. In the spring, there are beautiful wildflowers everywhere. You can even take a pony ride to explore the area.

The wetland and surrounding area of Vravrona also fall under the Natura 2000 Network. Click here to read about the protection and promotion of the Vravrona Wetland.

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About Eleni Maria Georgiou

Eleni Maria Georgiou is an independent writer and publishing professional devoted to creating books that are creative, original, and modern.  

Passionate about Athens and all the city has to offer, for four exciting years, I co-managed XpatAthens. This experience inspired me to write my first book, Eleni’s GREEK PHRASE BOOK: A Beginner's Guide to Greek Culture and the Greek Language in 2018, sparking the birth of Lenacke Press. I continue to write, think about, and publish creative and original books, adding to the Lenacke Press collection. 

In addition, since 2004, I have been running fixyourenglish.com, a business that provides Editing, Proofreading, and Translation services.

I currently live in Athens, Greece with my husband and two kids. I am fluent in both English and Greek and interested in learning more languages. I like organizing and attending community group events, reading, listening to podcasts and audiobooks, writing, lifting weights, and going hiking.

The award-winning sports tourism event Navarino Challenge, with a high sense of responsibility towards its participants and visitors, announces the postponement of the event to October 15-17, 2021, taking into consideration the epidemiological data and current health conditions prevailing in our country, despite designing and getting the necessary approvals for the strict health protocols.

Registered athletes and participants will receive relevant email communication from the event, whereas those interested can learn news and read all announcements directly through Navarino Challenge’s communication channels.

Navarino Challenge is held under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization, with the support of the Pylos-Nestor Municipality. Navarino Challenge has joined the Greek actions of the #BeactiveHellas 2020 program of the European Commission and is held under the auspices of the General Secretariat of Sports. All running races are co-organized with Messiniakos Gymnastic Club and EAS SEGAS Peloponnese Region.

Samsung is the Official Technology Partner.

Vikos Natural Mineral Water is the event’s Official Sponsor.

Luanvi is the Official Sports Supplier.

Pylos-Nestor Municipality, Poseidonia, Karalis Beach Hotel are Navarino Challenge’s Official Supporters.

Messinian Spa is the Official Beauty Partner.

On is the Official Shoe Partner.

Nestlé FITNESS® is the Official Breakfast Partner.

Target Security, Fysiotek Sports Lab are the event’s Partners.

Avance is the Official Car Rental Partner.

SKAI is the Premium TV Partner.

National Geographic is the Strategic Partner.

24MEDIA is the Premium Media Partner.

Deree - The American College of Greece is the Educational Partner. 
Explore Messinia, FitnessArt, Navarino Golf Academy, Navarino Outdoors, Navarino Racquet Academy, Pilates by Mandy, Red Swim Academy, Swim Academy, Triantafyllidis Beach Arena, Vizantinos target sport club, Marathon Team Greece are Navarino Challenge’s Athletic Partners.

Navarino Challenge is assisted by Vita N Travel, Karalis City Hotel & Spa, Lifeguard Patrol, Pylos Association of Enterprises for Tourism Development, Maritime Athletic Pylos Association “Nestor”, Pilia Express, Kayak.

Anazoe Spa, Attica Selections, Kessaris, Nargile, Panellinios Agora Games are the Discount Partners.

Active Media Group is responsible for the event’s Sports Production.

Photo Credit: Elias Lefas

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Art Athina launches its digital programming through the platform Αrt Athina Virtual on 15th October 2020 and promises a uniquely different experience to the art-loving audience. Art Athina Virtual is under the patronage of H.E. The President of the Hellenic Republic Ms. Katerina Sakellaropoulou.

During the digital premiere of the International Art Fair of Athens which is one of Europe’s oldest art fairs, the visitors will be able to navigate the art fair through their computers, tablets, or smartphones and meet the artists and their artworks without time limitations, since Art Athina Virtual will be accessible 24 hours every day -with different day and night mode- 7 days per week, until the end of October.

Art Athina Virtual features the parallel programming that has always been surrounding Art Athina and has established its own audience, with sections such as Talks, Performances, Video, and independent art spaces under the title Projects.

The transfer of the largest annual art institution in Greece to a digital environment due to the unprecedented conditions that emerged with the advent of the coronavirus epidemic and forced the cancellation of Art Athina 2020 at Zappeion Megaron as originally planned, will not limit the public’s contact with visual creation exclusively in the digital world.

Art Athina Virtual organizes Art Athina Week that will last from 13 to 20 October, during which the Athenian galleries will be able to exhibit in their natural spaces the works that will be presented in the viewing rooms.

As every year, the organization of the event belongs to the Hellenic Art Galleries Association and to the Art Athina team, with Artistic Director Stamatia Dimitrakopoulos. The implementation of the platform is carried out with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Sports.

Artistic Programming Art Athina

Virtual Viewing Rooms

The art galleries will present their digital booths through an easy-to-use platform, which will allow them to communicate the works of their artists with the public, locally and internationally. The platform will also support video art, audio installations, and digital artworks.

Projects

Independent art spaces from Greece and the United States are being invited to present their online projects exclusively for Art Athina Virtual. The participating spaces are Aetopoulos, Andreas Melas, Arch, Intermission, Radio Athènes, Serapis, and Vernon Gardens.

Talks

The Talks program of Art Athina Virtual has its own platform connected to the main website, offering the possibility of reproduction in all the communication channels of the exhibition. The program, curated by art critic and curator Marina Fokidis, will be based on subjects focusing on artists, collectors, galleries, and institutions. The discussions will include reflections on contemporary art in the context of the new reality. The Talks section will also present the Educational Program implemented for the third year by the Hellenic Association of Art Galleries and the Ioannou F. Costopoulos Foundation in the context of Art Athina. The program, designed by the artistic director of Art Athina, Stamatia Dimitrakopoulos, is addressed to students of the School of Fine Arts and aims to inform, inspire and prepare them for their introduction to the art world.

Performance

The Performance program of Art Athina is curated by Marina Fokidis under the title “Signs of proximity” is "Signs of proximity”. The program aspires to present new productions along with historical performances. A total of 24 artists from Greece and abroad - including Lida Papakonstantinou, Thalia Chioti, Panos Charalambous, Nikos Tranos, Nikos Navridis, Mary Zygouri, Angelos Skourtis, George Sapountzis, Georgia Sagri, Liliane Lijn, Jannis Varelas, Vassilis Karoul covers a time range of 21 years.

Video

In the digital realm, the Video program returns to its roots. It includes videos of artists such as Marina Abramovic and Ulay, Menelaos Karamaghiolis, Loukia Alavanou, Leto Kattou, and George Drivas - selected in collaboration with organizations and collections such as Daata Editions, DESTE Foundation, Daskalopoulos Collection, POLYECO Contemporary Art Initiative, along with independent artists and project spaces, such as Enterprise projects. The Video program is curated by Art Athina Artistic Director, Stamatia Dimitrakopoulos.

Visual identity of Art Athina Virtual

The visual identity of Art Athina Virtual refers to the pandemic and its consequences in our daily lives. Each letter of the new typeface is made out of shapes that do not stick together, referring to the social distance that is required for the safety of all of us due to the pandemic. Just as we are called to be together without physical contact, the elements that form each letter try to form a cohesive image so that the text is legible. Among the words, the visitors can see red doodles that humorously capture situations we all experienced every day during the lockdown and try to add a note of optimism to the new reality.

Art Athina’s visual identity is signed for another year by G Design Studio.