Navarino Challenge Returns To Costa Navarino This October

Navarino Challenge, the best sports tourism event in Greece as it has been distinguished within the past years, returns for its 11th year on October 13-15, at Costa Navarino and Pylos.

The message of the event is “Sports Unites People” and following the purpose of the Olympic Movement, Navarino Challenge will gather for another year people of all ages and abilities, amateurs and professional participants from Greece and abroad, in a rich schedule full of sports activities for all by hosting its guests at the hotels: W Costa Navarino, The Westin Resort Costa Navarino and The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort.

Together with the Greek-American ultramarathoning legend and current ambassador of Greek Tourism, Constantine “Dean” Karnazes, along with dozens of Olympians and Paralympians, this year’s event will promote the value of participation and not victory or competition, with more than 40 activities and Olympic sports. With the message #eatwell #runwell #livewell and its recognition as the best wellness program in Europe, the event will endorse exercise and proper nutrition while promoting the benefits of the Messinian diet. 

It is worth to be noted that in 2022, Navarino Challenge had more than 3,000 participations of all ages and abilities, as well as more than 20 athletes with disabilities. Watch last year’s highlights video and get ready for this year’s action: https://youtu.be/x2aVusvzL34

64 awards in 10 years for the top sports tourism event

Navarino Challenge reached at the top of the Sports Marketing Awards 2023, winning 15 awards for the 2022 anniversary event. More specifically, the event received 3 Platinum and 11 Gold awards, such as:

• The best branding strategy, as it had the highest score in the whole section and received the Platinum distinction
• The best native advertising campaign that led to another Platinum award
• The best sponsorship of the entire awards institution for the collaboration with Stoiximan, which received the highest distinction and the 3rd Platinum award.
• The best sports/cultural tourism event
• The best sales strategy
• The best event in team sports
• The best Multi-Sport Event
• The best health and wellness event
• The best event for children 
• The best summer sports event 
• The best sponsorship platform for the collaboration with Miele Hellas

It also received 1 Silver Award in the category “Most Innovative Use of Content Creators & Influencers for a Sports-Related Activity”.

Navarino Challenge remained at the top of Tourism Awards 2023. In the respective awards of 2023, for the ten-year anniversary of the event, it received 2 Gold Awards in the categories “Sports Tourism” and “Health & Wellness Tourism” and 1 Platinum Award in the category “Integrated Communications Campaign,” collecting the highest score in the highly competitive field of tourism, section “Branding / Media/ Public Relations’’.

Grand Sponsor: That Gorilla Brand’s Adventures For A Cause – Fundraising Initiative #2

That Gorilla Brand, the world’s biggest lifestyle brand dedicated to the protection of the mountain gorilla, a dynamic, premium lifestyle brand driven by contemporary aspects of fashion and films, as well as a genuine, adventurous spirit, will make its dynamic debut in this year’s Navarino Challenge. Through its initiatives this year, That Gorilla Brand will help raise money to improve sanitation facilities in Uganda. Out of the total 16 schools located around the edges of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BNIP), which is home to mountain gorilla habitats, only three meet the hygiene standards for children and teachers, and all the remaining 13 schools require significant financial and humanitarian assistance to meet basic standards of health sanitation and provide clean and safe bathroom facilities. Watch the related video of That Gorilla Brand here.

That Gorilla Brand is the event’s Grand Sponsor. 

Miele is the Official Sponsor.

Luanvi is the Official Sports Supplier.

SIXT, member of the MOTODYNAMICS Group, is the Premium Mobility Partner.

Costa Navarino and the hotels W Costa Navarino, The Westin Resort Costa Navarino and The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort, are the Official Hospitality Sponsors.

Poseidonia Restaurant and Karalis Beach Hotel are the Official Supporters.

Messinian Spa is the Official Beauty Partner.

SKAI is the Premium TV Partner.

Deree - The American College of Greece is the Educational Partner.

FitnessArt, F45 Barrio Salamanca, Moraitis Watersports, Mouratoglou Tennis Center – Costa Navarino, Navarino Golf Academy, Navarino Outdoors, Pilates by Mandy, Red Swim Academy, Swim O’ Clock, Triantafyllidis Beach Arena, Vizantinos target sport club are the event’s Athletic Partners.

Navarino Challenge is Assisted by Vita N Travel, Karalis City Hotel & Spa and Pylos Association of Enterprises for Tourism Development.

The event is organized by ActiveMedia Group which is also responsible for the event’s Sports Production.

More information on this year’s activities, the opening of running registrations, and special accommodation packages will be announced in the coming weeks.

Photo Credit: Elias Lefas