The 2nd Hellenic-French Olympic and Paralympic Week, organized by the French Institute of Greece, the Hellenic Olympic Committee and the National Olympic Academy (NOC) in cooperation with the French Olympic Academy, started with great success and with brilliant athletes.The programme was opened by the Director of the French Institute of Greece Nicolas Eybalin, the MP of Normandy Mrs. Laurence Dumont, the President of the French Olympic Academy Mr. Arnaud Richard and the President of the National Olympic Academy Mr. George Alikakos.The first online meetings of the students took place with the Olympic champion of water polo and leader of our National Team Yannis Fountoulis, the Olympic champion of archery Evangelia Psarra, and the Olympians of athletics, Kristi Anagnostopoulou discus throwing and the French athlete Yohann Diniz.
The students had the opportunity to meet and talk to these great athletes, who shared with them the secrets of their sport and the most important moments of their career, inspiring them as role models.They also spoke to the students about the values that sport and Olympism stand for, values that we see in our lives every day, giving them a strong message of values through their examples.
French, as the official language of the Olympic Games, was at the heart of the programme and all presentations were made in both languages.
Finally, this week is a unique opportunity to mobilise a collective dynamic centred on the Francophonie, with athletes, teachers and students from both countries as protagonists.
In the coming days, we will welcome other great athletes such as Magalie Pottier, motocross cycling, David Smetanine, swimming, Yannis Sevdikalis, 400 m races, Paul-Antoine De Belval, fencing and the great sailor Emilia Tsoulfa.
