A great historical sports event revives, linking past and present along with modern History, reminding people of the timeless values of Ancient Greece. The Authentic Marathon Swim, Skyllias & Hydna represents the revival of the original marathon swimming route, 2.500 years after it was first accomplished by Skyllias and his daughter Hydna, both of whom helped Greece in the historical naval battle of Artemision in the year 480 B.C. The event includes open water swimming races of 10km, 3km and 1.5km, as well as an 800m. swimming race for kids that will take place on July 4-5, 2020, at Pefki, Evia in the Municipality of Istiaia-Edipsos, on this Olympic year.

The press conference of this historical sports tourism event was hosted at NJV Athens Plaza, in the presence of Deputy Minister of Culture & Sports, Mr. Lefteris Avgenakis, President of the Greek National Tourism Organization, Mrs. Angela Gerekou, Secretary General of Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE), Mr. Dimitris Kafantaris, Mayor of Istiaia-Edipsos, Mr. Ioannis Kontzias, silver Olympic medalist and world champion, Spyros Gianniotis, Greek national federal technical coach, Nikos Gemelos who has undertaken the technical direction and design of the swimming routes and Active Media Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Akis Tsolis.

During the press conference, Deputy Minister of Culture & Sports, Mr. Lefteris Avgenakis stated: “The organizers of this event need to be congratulated for teaching athletes the value and greatness of the historical achievement of those two swimmers. It is fully aligned with our philosophy of extroversion and the development of sports tourism in our areas. Thanks to this event the history of this land is promoted, and an opportunity for publicizing the natural wealth of the area is created, while also assisting in the development of the local economy and employment through the attraction of visitors from all around the country. The philosophy of this event thoroughly identifies with our main goal of making sport a way of life while achieving: improvement in quality of peoples’ lives, promotion of a healthy model of living and preparation of better citizens through sports. We work systematically in order to attract small and medium-sized events that can establish our country as a force in sports tourism”.

The President of the Greek National Tourism Organization, Mrs. Angela Gerekou stated: “We support sports tourism, and the Authentic Marathon Swim. As we move forward with our strategy of sustainable tourism growth with regional and thematic specialization, we promote the development of tourism in all our country’s Regions. Moving towards this direction we are in pursuit of significant events that can offer high added value to local communities and our country. In this context, sporting events adopt a vital role, due to the high level of interaction that they possess and due to the physical presence of participants that leads to a significant reach in the overall population. For Greece, sports tourism is pinpointed as a strategic target in the effort of promoting thematic specialization of the 2 Greek tourism product. The new sporting event “The Authentic Marathon Swim”, driven by the historical moment of Skyllias’ and his daughter’s Hydna swim from Afetes to Artemision, aims at creating an event that can offer international recognition and increase tourism levels. Greek National Tourism Organization aligns its position with the Ministry of Tourism and supports the publicization and promotion of such attempts, providing our Auspices, in order to give organizers another motive to achieve the best possible results. By supporting actions that promote thematic forms of tourism, such as sports tourism, we highlight the multiple capabilities of the Greek tourism product, adding to the well-known saying “sun and sea”. We are proving that through cooperation and methodical work we can apply our principles for balanced tourism growth between islands and mainland destinations, so that each region can be benefited, and give benefit back to the economy and the community. Finally, I would like to add that we are in continuous communications with the Municipality of Istiaia-Edipsos and all responsible bodies in order to have a successful event”.

On behalf of the event’s organization, Mayor of Istiaia-Edipsos, Mr. Ioannis Kontzias stated: “Our Municipality, through the motivation of the historical and cultural background of this land, initiates through the emblematic swimming event “The Authentic Marathon Swim, Skyllias & Hydna”, a variety of extroversive actions with the goal of developing and boosting our tourism product”.

A statement was also made by silver Olympic champion in open water swimming, as Spyros Gianniotis stated: “This is an historical event that links our past and our present with the glorious times of Ancient Greece. I am honored to be a part of this sporting event being the first Olympic champion in marathon swimming coming from our country. I wish that through this initiative we can attract young champions and great swimmers from all around the world towards marathon swimming, to enjoy this authentic route”.

The Authentic Marathon Swim, Skyllias & Hydna aims at uniting people of all nations and areas of this world, providing them with an opportunity of discovering and experiencing the history of the authentic marathon swimming route. In an effort of globally promoting the event, the organizers will collaborate with internationally recognized platforms of global events, attracting athletes from abroad. More information on the swimming races and the opening of registrations will be announced in the following weeks.

Many prominent personalities from the area of swimming were present at the press conference. People who have helped and continue to strengthen the Greek sport, each one in their own way and through their position, such as Marianna Lymperta, Dimitris Manganas, Dimitris Negris, Giannis Kotsiopoulos, Spyros Chrysikopoulos, Ioannis Palantzas and Nikolaos Simantiras.

A statement was sent by the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Harry Theoharis, in which he states: “Culture and Tourism are two concepts that are tightly linked, especially when they “meet” in order to illustrate the history of our land. The organization of events that promote culture and tourism, is considered vital by our Ministry and Government, obtaining our full support. An event of this nature is “The Authentic Marathon Swim, Skyllias & Hydna”. The event that takes place with the permission of the Hellenic Swimming Federation and under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, will attempt to do exactly that, by promoting the historical wealth of Artemision and Greece. A sporting event, that is simultaneously considered to be a staple of tourism and culture, with added value for the local community and the surrounding area as it contributes towards the promotion and the extension of services offered to tourists and customers that visit our country. Sports tourism identifies one of the main forms of thematic tourism, featuring great potential for growth in our 3 country, being considered as one of the immediate priorities in the strategic planning of the Ministry of Tourism for the following decade. Our country, having a mild climate and an unparalleled coastline, is ideal for the development of sports tourism and the organization of such events. I would like to offer my warmest regards and congratulations to the organizers and participants, while noting that such events contribute towards the overall attempt of developing Greek tourism and the promotion of our country”.

Moreover a statement to the organization was sent by the President of the Hellenic Swimming Federation, Mr. Dimitris Diathesopoulos who mentioned: “The Hellenic Swimming Federation, being the most relevant athletic federation, supports your event as it will be held under our auspices and I would like to believe that, similar to other attempts, it will succeed in terms of its organization and in terms of competition. Through this particular event the history of our country is highlighted, as it revives the authentic marathon swim of Skyllias and his daughter Hydna during the historical Naval Battle of Artemision, 2.500 years later. Best wishes to all participants and good luck”.

The Authentic Marathon Swim, Skyllias & Hydna will be co-organized by the Municipality of Istiaia-Edipsos and Active Media Group.

 

Anamnesia was the press event’s supporter providing all guests with Greek made unique gifts.

Sports Production: Active Media

Group Hashtag: #authenticmarathonswim

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With the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), governments and organizations around the world have been enforcing emergency measures to keep the general public safe.

Even though it is sometimes hard to keep up with the ever-changing measures in Greece, we do our best to stay on top of the headlines and inform our readers in as much detail as possible.

Click here to learn more about how to protect yourself, symptoms, and where to seek medical treatment. Click here to read about how to get vaccinated for COVID-19 in Greece.

1. Filling-in a form on the government website forma.gov.gr.
2. Sending an SMS to the number 13033 see details here.
3. Stating your reason in a simple, signed personal declaration.
Means of public transport will continue to operate on 65% occupancy; commuters still need to use the SMS service.

Public Services

Public service offices will remain open but will serve the public by appointment only to avoid overcrowding.

Education

Schools will close and students will attend classes via e-learning. 

Tutoring and language centers will only operate with distance learning.

Workplace Measures

Mandatory teleworking (work from home) for 50% of public and private sector employees has been applied.

Employees must arrive at their workplace in 3 groups (7 am, 8 am, and 9 am) to prevent public transport congestion.

Employees must depart from the workplace in 4 groups to prevent congestion on public transport.

Frequent checks will occur at workplaces of public and private sector services, and fines imposed on supervisors/employers and employees who do not comply with personal protection measures in the workplace—namely, the mandatory use of a protective mask.

Rapid Covid-19 tests will be carried out at workplaces of the public and private sectors, public service buildings, and congested areas of Attica, such as schools, public transport, and hospitals.

 

With the continued Coronavirus cases in Greece, this article outlines a lot of helpful information including steps to protect yourself, symptoms, and where to get tested.

Click here to learn more about goverment enforced measures to contain the spread of the virus.

 

 

Get A Daily Update On COVID-19 Cases In Greece

Get a daily update on the course of the coronavirus pandemic in Greece. The data is updated daily according to the official announcements of the Greek Ministry of Health.

To stay up-to-date, please visit covid19.gov.gr

When To Seek Medical Care

Bioiatriki - appointment is required, results typically within 48 hours, service in English (website is in Greek), call 210 6966000.

Temporary Clinic at Athens Airport - no appoinment required but payment online is required ahead of time, results within 24 hours, service in English.

Steps To Stay Safe Against The Coronavirus In Greece

The World Health Organization (WHO) shares some necessary protective measures against the coronavirus and advises people to take care of their health and protect others by using these methods; also, these important tips on when and how to use a mask.

Following are the recommended protective measures:

1. Wash Your Hands Well & Frequently

Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them carefully with soap and water. Remember to wash hands when cooking, helping sick individuals, and after contact with animals.

2. Maintain Social Distancing
Keep at least 1 meter (at least 3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Be extra careful of the elderly and indiviuals with chronic illness.

3. Avoid Touching Your Eyes, Nose, And Mouth

Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth; from there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.

 

Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory etiquette. Make sure you cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or with a tissue when you cough or sneeze; properly dispose of the used tissue immediately and wash or sanitize your hands following.

How To Use A Mask

Even though masks should be used as part of a comprehensive strategy of measures to suppress transmission, the use of a mask alone cannot provide an adequate level of protection against COVID-19.

Symptoms Of The Coronavirus

If a person becomes infected with the virus, they can develop symptoms that range from mild, such as the common cold, to very serious. As with other respiratory infections, infection of COVID-19 can cause mild symptoms, such as:

· Collapse
· Sore throat
· Fever
· Cough

Some people may have serious symptoms such as:

· Pneumonia
· Difficulty breathing

It rarely leads to death. Elderly and people with underlying diseases (such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease) are more susceptible to developing serious symptoms.

Volunteer For Free COVID-19 Testing

About 20,000 tests are performed daily by the public health system on people who have an increased chance of being exposed to the virus. The Greek government's goal is to significantly increase the number of tests by monitoring asymptomatic volunteers through the random selection of 12,000 citizens daily.

Your participation will give experts a better picture of the coronavirus in Greece and help contain its spread throughout the community. Fill in the following "COVID19 Free Test Application Form" to become a candidate for the COVID19 sample testing. The test will be carried-out with rapid antigen detection of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Your participation is valuable. For you, for your neighbor, for your own people, for all of us.

Find more information about how to participate in the sample testing procedure please visit testing.gov.gr (Information Available in Greek Only)

 

It is important to remind our readers that XpatAthens is not in any way a media source. While we do our best to keep our readers informed, we advise you to consult Greek media outlets such as ekathimerini.com, amna.gr, naftemporiki.gr, and protothema.gr and/or international news sites for up-to-the-hour updates on the coronavirus. Be wise and stay safe.

 

The Publishing House “EN PLO EDITIONS” is organizing a big Winter Book Bazaar at Athens War Museum on Thursday 27th and Friday 28th February in support of the Organization «Women Prisoners and Ex-prisoners’ Supporting Network».

EN PLO EDITIONS once again supports the pioneering idea of ​​the "Network" offering 1 euro from the purchase of each book for the implementation of a Mobile Coffee Shop, where 6 women will be employed daily, giving an opportunity for professional reintegration for the women ex-convicts.

Τhe Bazaar which will take place at the Athens War Museum, will offer you the chance to discover hundreds of books, a huge variety of titles for both young and old, for as little as 3 euros.

With the support of the Organization «Women Prisoners and Ex-prisoners’ Supporting Network» a big musical event is being hosted on Friday, February 28 at 7:00 pm at the Amphitheater of the Athens War Museum. A big group of artists, who participated in the programs of the «Women Prisoners and Ex-prisoners’ Supporting Network», in collaboration with Mr. Klimis Pyrounakis, meet in order to travel us on the musical paths of love ... The event will start with the presentation of the work of "Network" by Klimis Pyrounakis.

With every purchase of 10 euros, you get one more book completely free from the promotions section! (At 20 euros 2 books, at 30 euros 3 books and so on).

Thursday February 27: 2pm - 10pm

Friday, February 28: 10am - 10pm

The Panhellenic Students Competition of Negotiations Athens Negotiations Tournament returns for the second year running. On the 30th and 31st of May 2020, students of Greek and Cypriot universities will take part in real-time negotiations.

This competition has been organized by the Department of Business Administration of Athens University of Economics, with scientific director dr. Ilias Kapoutsis.

In this competition, 18 teams are taking part, consisting of three students each undergraduate and postgraduate students from Greece and Cyprus and supported by 40 volunteers.

The purpose of this competition is to get together students from Greece and around the world for the resolution of various issues and to enhance the skill of negotiation which is a prerequisite for the adaptation and prosperity in the 4th industrial revolution.

During the two-day simulations, the participants will have the opportunity to exhibit their negotiation skills and to gain valuable experience.

The winners of ANT2019 will represent our country at the Warsaw Negotiation Round 2020 International Negotiation Competition. The knowledge and the experience that the competitors will gain from this event, will be beneficial for them and our country.

The interested teams to participate in this competition, they can apply through the Greek website: www.ant.aueb.gr, from 10 to 28 of February. The final selection will be based on the studies that the applicants have concluded, the possible working of voluntary experience, any awards, the geographical origin of the team, and the accompanying video explaining the reasons why they believe that they should are selected to participate.

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XpatAthens is proud to be a Media Sponsor of the Athens Negotiations Tournament

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The flame for the Tokyo Summer Olympics will pass by some of the most historic landmarks in Greece over eight days before being handed over to Japan.

 

According to the Greek Olympic Committee, the Olympic flame will pass by World Heritage sites and significant landmarks, such as the Acropolis of Athens and Thessaloniki.

 

The official lighting of the flame ceremony will take place on March 12 at the site of Ancient Olympia in the Peloponnese. About 600 torchbearers will participate in the Olympic torch relay before it is handed over to Tokyo organizing committee officials on March 19 at a ceremony at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, the location of the first modern Olympics in 1896.

 

The Japanese leg of the relay will start on March 26 from the northeastern Tohoku region and go past all 47 Japanese prefectures before making its entrance at the opening ceremony at Tokyo’s National Stadium on July 24.


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

Photo: Olympic.org

 

On February 18-19, 2020, American Community Schools - ACS Athens hosted the 3rd Annual Innovation Summit in the Learning Commons, managed by the school’s Incubator of Student's Creative Ideas (ISCI).

 

For 2 days, the Innovation Summit featured a wide range of workshops including the areas of Mathematics, Technology (Fusion 360, Scratch and Makey Makey, Python with Micro:Bit), Health, Athletics, Optics, Energy, Recycling, Plastic Management, Sustainable Education and Entrepreneurship.

Students shared their intellectual passions by presenting their well-researched projects such as hydrogen cars, LED lightsabers, 3D and laser printed objects/labels. Piezoelectric drums and bio tanks used to generate energy were visible and the green city model displayed solar, electrical, wind, hydrogen, and oxygen energy used in everyday life.

According to Ms. MaryAnn Augoustatos, Director of Learning Commons at ACS Athens, the success of the Innovation Summit serves a greater purpose: “The innovation summit provides students with the highest level of student leadership that can exist in an educational institution. Students decide what topics will be taught for two school days. As educators, our responsibility is to channel students’ interests/passions/curiosities and research, to create positive changes, as responsible global citizens. The two days of the summit served this purpose. What an incredible celebration of learning!”

Finally, the President of ACS Athens Dr. Peggy Pelonis in her message remarked: “ Watching the students present with such enthusiasm and providing the platform for such projects to come to fruition was at the very least impressive. Hats off to each of the students (all three schools) and congratulations to you and your team for organizing such a meaningful event.”

On the occasion of Valentine's Day, the teacher at the Art club asked the children to paint love. Children in this class range from 4 to 17 years old. It's great to see their paintings and what love means to them. Hearts, hearts, many hearts everywhere. Houses with chimneys forming heart-shaped smoke. Swings and playgrounds with boys and girls playing together. The Eiffel tower, a bridge in Venice and boys getting down on their knees proposing to girls. Wedding rings and flowers. Pink and blue birds. "The Wedding" was the title of a painting."What does love mean to you?" the teacher asked. "When two people get married and are in love and are together," replied one girl – different from the one who gave the wedding title to her painting.

 

Hmmm?? What does love really mean? And how do children learn about it? That is how do us parents, grandparents, the immediate and close environment of children teach them about love? What is love for us? Because that’s what we show to our children as children mirror us. Love is making you breakfast when I know you are tired. Love is giving you my toy when you ask for it or my cardigan when you are cold. Love is offering you my shoulder and a big hug when you need it, when you want to cry, without asking how and why. Love is giving you the space and time you need. Love is supporting you to evolve the way you want even if I do not fully agree with you. Love is wanting to be together during good times and bad times. Love is not running away when we disagree but trying to find a solution together. Love is doing a good deed without spreading the word around. Let’s think, how do we as a unit and as a group express and accept love in our various relationships? Because that is exactly what our children will learn.❤️

If there’s a topic you’re interested in and would like to learn more about you may contact me via email. For more information about me and my work check the XpatAthens Directory or visit my website. Because this is your life!

The much anticipated revamped Omonia Square will be revealed to the Athenians at the end of the week, Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis stated on social media last Thursday.

 

"Very happy that Omonia square has entered the final stretch and will be delivered to the Athenians," he said.

 

For years Omonia Square has been one of Athens' most central meeting points and has undergone many transformations. The plans include reinstalling a fountain removed from the square in the early 1990s while a few luxury hotels are opening this year around the square, on Pireos and Stadiou streets.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greece-is.com