In the framework of the 2from Olympic Week, 150 children from schools all over the country, one from each educational region, were drawn to participate in a three-day program offered by the Hellenic Olympic Committee and the National Olympic Academy, at the renovated facilities of the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia.
The students toured the Archaeological Site and the Museum of Ancient Olympia, where the Olympic Games began in antiquity and laid a wreath at the monument of Pierre de Coubertin, the school of the Primary School of Nea Triglia planted an olive tree in the courtyard of the Pierre de Coubertin Monument and also toured the Historical Archive of the Organising Committee of the 2004 Olympic Games and painted their message for Peace..
All students were given the opportunity to meet great Greek Olympians and distinguished athletes and to carry out an experiential sports program (running, jumping, throwing, laser run, handball, weightlifting, golf, cross hoping) which they loved!
Also, on World Environment Day we celebrated together with actions together in the magnificent forest of Fologis, a protected area by the NATURA 2000 Network!
We visited the environmental education centre in Koumani and the students carried out a litter picking activity in the forest, sending a strong message about the individual responsibility we all have...
Karditsomagoula, Nidri High School, the 10th Primary School of Nea Triglia, the 2nd Primary School of Limenas Hersonissos, the 2nd Primary School of Kos, the 3rd Primary School of Sparta and the Primary School of Psahni.
With them were the Olympic champions of weightlifting Victor Mitrou and George Tzelilis, of handball George Chalkidis, and the distinguished athletes Penelope Nika (modern pentathlon), Antonis Platis (golf), Anna Charalambidi (water polo), Angelos Lemanis (sailing), Roula Giannikaki (athletics) and Christina Zachariadou (tennis), Aimee Lou Le Floch (rhythmic gymnastics) from the Paris 2024 Organising Committee, whom we thank very much for the special experience they gave to the students. Many thanks to Mr. Michalis Mertzianidis for the excellent presentation of the Run & Out game and all his help and love.
The President of ETHNOA Mr. George Alikakos said: «We are very happy that for the first time students from all over Greece had the opportunity to be hosted, to learn, to get to know Greek Olympians, the Olympic sports and the principles and values of Olympism. The Hellenic Olympic Committee, the National Olympic Academy in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs created the Olympic Week in Schools, where this year 93,858 students and 2,882 schools from all over Greece participated.
We look to the future with optimism, our goal is for Olympic Education to be taught in all schools in our country!
We are very grateful for the great success of the hospitality, accommodation and educational program of the 150 students from all over Greece at the International Olympic Academy, the teachers accompanying the students, the Olympic champions and champions who participated, and the director of ETHNOA Ms. Denise Panagopoulou who coordinated the entire program.»
Finally, we would like to thank Allianz company that offered insurance coverage for all participants, the Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia, the Forester of Pyrgos Mr.Leta and the Head of Natural Protection and Environment Ms.Karamberou who contributed with their support to the success of all our actions and the head of the facilities of the International Olympic Academy Mr.Vangelis Fryngis.
Giorgos Alikakos
President of ETHNOA
