The National Olympic Academy, in the context of the dissemination of the values of Olympism and the value of equal living for all groups of the population, proceeded to a pioneering move.
Converted the book «Five Circles - One World - Olympic Games and Values» and the quizzes «Test your knowledge and know the world of the Olympic Games» into audio and Braille format, meeting the need of the visually impaired to have access to the sporting material of the Olympic movement.
The presentation of the book took place at the «Lighthouse for the Blind of Greece», in cooperation with the Association of Participants in Olympic Games, the Greek Olympic Winners Association and under the auspices of the Hellenic Olympic Committee.
The President of ETHNOA, George Alikakos, said, among other things, «This publication comes to enrich the library of existing books that are creatively used by the visually impaired. The book, which has been divided into three parts to make it more functional, invites us to learn about Olympic Sports, Athletes who have gone down in history for their miraculous achievements, as well as to have fun through the quizzes in the third part.
It invites us to travel with our imagination to the magical world of the Olympic Games and to apply the Olympic Values, such as respect for others, friendship and solidarity, in our lives.
We, at ETHNOA, have an obligation to promote the book not only to the institutions that educate and empower our compatriots with visual impairments, but also to lending libraries throughout the country.».
The Secretary General Manolis Kolympadis spoke on behalf of the Hellenic Olympic Committee: The creation of this book is another effort of the HOC and NTHNOA for the dissemination of Olympic Education, which is implemented with much love and perseverance by the National Olympic Academy, in schools in Greece.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are all different, but we should all have access to knowledge, to joy, to creation.
Our world is only a better place when there is a practical interest in promoting every process that concerns human equality and dignity.»
The event was attended and greeted by the Secretary General of Sports George Mavrotas, while the President of the Association of Greek Olympians Voula Zygouri, the Treasurer of the Union of Participants in Olympic Games Chrysa Biskitzi, the Vice President of the Lighthouse for the Blind of Greece Georgia Roukoutaki and the Paralympic gold medalist in 100 meters Nassos Gavelas who presented the book.
Also in attendance were the Olympic champions Vassilis Polymeros, Evie Moraitidou, Hara Kaurami, Neri Niaguara, Varvara Magnisali, Ioanna Bouziou, Maria Tsouri, the distinguished athletes, Angelos Lemanis, Christina Kaltsa, Anna Charalambidi, Antonis Platis, the Paralympian Yannis Kostakis, the President of the World Fencing Federation Manolis Katsiatakis, the President of the Hellenic Shooting Federation and member of the EOE Thanasis Papageorgiou, the members of the EOE Thomas Tokas, Nikos Xylouris, Dimitris Georgoulis, the President of the Modern Pentathlon Federation Dora Pallis, the Choreographer and the Proprietress of the Olympic Flame Ceremonies Artemis Ignatiou and Xanthi Georgaki, the Director General of the HOC Yvette Kosmetatou, the Director of the International Olympic Academy Penelope Amelidou and the Director of the Athens Olympic Museum Maria Papaioannou.
