The participation of the Schools in the start of the 4th Olympic Week, the most important educational programme of Olympic Education, which is taking place for the fourth consecutive year and which has been embraced by all the Schools and teachers of our country, as well as of Cyprus and the Greek Schools of the Greek Diaspora, exceeded all expectations.
The President of ETHNOA, Mr. George Alikakos, in his brief address, stressed the importance of the Olympic Education Programme, which is organised in cooperation with the Hellenic Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sport. He also noted that this year the Olympic week could not be dedicated to Paris 2024, which will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games and assured that the HOC and ETHNOA will continue to work hard to promote the philosophy of Olympism and the Olympic Ideals in our country.
Then Mr. Kostas Antonopoulos, archaeologist of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia, guided the students to the Ancient Stadium of Olympia and the monument of Pierre de Coubertin, talking to them about the ceremony of the Lighting and Delivery of the Olympic Flame to the Committee of the host city and the torch relay that follows, which carry messages of brotherhood around the world, which are as relevant as ever nowadays.
In the next link we had the pleasure to host Julia Thum and Evelyn Pfeifer, teachers of the International Olympic Committee, where through the Olympic Museum of Lausanne, which the students got to know, they presented us a historical journey on the position of women from antiquity to the present day, they talked about the Paris torch, and one of the new sports, skateboarding. In this connection we had the pleasure to be joined by the Dean of the Olympic Academy of Cyprus, Mrs. Klea Papaellina, who said with great emotion that this program is exemplary every year, improving and growing and that the values of Olympism define our whole life and are very important. Finally, he was impressed by the modern and impressive way of presenting the Olympic Museum of Lausanne and congratulated the National Olympic Academy for its great educational work.
Then, the artist Mrs Ioanna Tsakhtsirli, inspired the imagination of the students by taking them on a wonderful journey of colours, guiding them to create with their brushes a special poster for Paris 2024, sending through their painting inspiration a strong global message for Peace in the world. We were joined by Mrs Dora Pallis, Secretary General of ETHNOA and President of the Modern Pentathlon, who participated in the artistic experiential workshop with great passion and enthusiasm and spoke to the students about the Olympic values, respect, friendship and excellence that unite us all.
Then the students met the world champion of shooting Emma Katzouraki, who brought them closer to her sport, talked about her dreams and her goals for Paris and our Olympic gold medalist Stefanos Dusko and the world champion Evangelia Anastasiadou, who introduced them to the world of rowing.
