The renewal of the cooperation agreement for the promotion of the Olympic and Paralympic Games «Paris 2024», the promotion of the Greek Olympic cultural heritage and the promotion of the French language was signed at the Hellenic Olympic Committee.
The cooperation started in 2018 with very positive results and the renewal was signed by the President of the HOC Mr. Spyros Capralos, the Ambassador of France, Mr Patrick Maisonnave, the President of the National Olympic Academy, Mr. George Alikako and the Cultural Counsellor of the French Embassy and Director of the French Institute, Mr. Nicolas Eybalin, in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Sport Mr. Lefteris Avgenakis.
The programme, co-organised by the Embassy of France in Greece with the French Institute of Greece, the Hellenic Olympic Committee and the National Olympic Academy, aims to promote the values of Olympism, the spirit of mutual assistance, tolerance, integration and Francophonie.
The partnership of these institutions also aims to encourage a specialized dialogue between Greek and French experts in Olympism and the development of European volunteerism, in accordance with the Olympic spirit bequeathed by Demetrios Vikelas and Pierre de Coubertin.
The President of the HOC Spyros Capralos he stressed in his speech: «This memorandum expresses our desire to contribute in every possible way to the implementation of a perfect event and of course our full support in this direction.
The HOC is committed to work from now on alongside you so that all Greeks, together with the French people, can experience the strong emotions that the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will undoubtedly offer. This memorandum of understanding may be just a document. But together we can make it a reality. An act that will improve the lives of thousands of young people. The young people who are the future of both our countries.»
The President of the NTHN.O.A. Giorgos Alikakos he stressed: «This cooperation is particularly important for the youth of our country, the promotion of the Olympic spirit, the Olympic values and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
For this reason, the National Olympic Academy embraced this cooperation from the very first moment and our experiences and results have been very positive and encouraging to continue this effort.»
The Ambassador of France, Mr Patrick Maisonnave he pointed out: «The Greeks organised a perfect Olympics in 2004 and now we, the French, 20 years later, are called upon to do the same. We must achieve an event with a global impact that will bring together the best athletes from all over the world, while remaining true to the ideals of Olympism. Values that we wish to highlight, French and Greeks together, values such as equality, generosity, brotherhood, solidarity. These are, after all, important values for all of us today. I would like to express my pleasure at today's renewal of the cooperation agreement, thanks to which we will be able to implement in the near future some actions to promote sport and the Olympic values, with which we are so closely associated, by addressing the youth of our two countries.»
Among other things, in his address Mr. Lefteris Avgenakis said: «The Cooperation Pact between Greece and France has unique implications. The Greek Olympic heritage is the light, not only for the Olympic Games, but for sport at all levels. The timeless and universal Olympic values point the way to the sport we want to see. For the athletes we admire. For the personalities we choose to identify with. For the society we want to become.»
The experience they have from the organization of the program so far, the Olympic champions Demosthenes Tabakos, Evi Moraϊtidou and Vassilis Polymeros.
The event was also attended by the Secretary General of Sports George Mavrotas, the President of the Hellenic Paralympic Committee George Kapelakis, the former Minister of Sports Fani Petralia, the Olympic medallists Agi Kasoumi and George Tzelilis, the Choreographer of the Olympic Flame Ceremonies Artemis Ignatiou, the members of the EOC Plenary Assembly Antonis Nikolopoulos, Iakovos Filippousis, Thomas Tokas, Alexandra Pallis, Nikos Xylouris, Dimitris Georgoulis, Yannis Kapos and Thanasis Papageorgiou.
From the EEA Communications and Public Relations Office
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