OPENING CEREMONY OF THE ROUTE OF TRUCE ACTIVITIES 2023
On Saturday, May 6, 2023, immediately after the Route of Ifitos, the Opening Ceremony of the Route of Truce 2023 was held at the theatre of Ancient Ilida.
The President of the Federation of Olympia, Mrs. Sofia Hintziou Kontogianni, referred to the need to establish the Truce as an Olympic value and to the modern Olympic Games, and emphasized:
“We are here to walk the Route of Truce, in an effort to remind everyone that in the modern world we live in, all of us who believe in Olympism and in the values it represents have a duty to promote the fundamental Olympic value—the value of the Truce that leads to the much-desired peace.”
She also noted:
“Each and every one of you runners who take part in the Route of Truce is an unofficial messenger of the Truce in the modern era.”
Finally, honorary plaques were presented to the forerunner of the Route of Truce, Mr. Kostas Chatzis, to the runner from Turkey Mr. Dogan Pekgoz, and to the #BEACTIVE ambassador and world champion in TAE KWON DO, Mrs. Maria Karpathaki.
The event concluded with the group “En Choro” from Zacharo (wearing costumes by Mrs. Emilia Giannopoulou), who—after performing—distributed branches of wild olive from the sacred land of Ilia to everyone present.
Afterwards, the local band Banda Morena brought the ceremony to a close. All attendees enjoyed the music, ending the celebration with dancing.
Among those present were: the Vice Governor for Agricultural Development Mr. Thodoris Vasilopoulos (who also offers Route of Truce runners, as a symbolic gift from Ilia, a small bottle of organic olive oil produced by him), the Vice Governor for Sports, Volunteering and Olympism Mr. Dimitris Nikolakopoulos, ND parliamentary candidate for Ilia Mr. Lefteris Varouxis, former Mayor of Ilida Mr. Christos Christodoulopoulos, former President of the Local Community of Ilida Mr. N. Kagianas, and former MP and Deputy Minister Mr. Giorgos Kontogiannis.
At the event venue, artworks by young students from Ilia were exhibited, created through the schools of Mrs. Eleni Stathopoulou and Mr. Kristo Hasa, under the theme: “Mega to tis thalassis kratos” (“Great is the power of the sea”), which was also the theme of the art exhibition at the War Museum of Athens. An honorary plaque and commendation were awarded both to the educators and to the young artists.
The events are organized by the Federation of Olympia and co-organized with the Region of Western Greece, the Municipalities of Ilida, Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia, the Supreme Council for Sports of the Armed Forces, and the collaborating support organization, the International Olympic Truce Centre, with the support of the Region of Attica and #BEACTIVE, and technical support by the War Museum of Athens.
They are held under the auspices of: the Ministries of National Defence, Culture and Sports – General Secretariat of Sports, Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Rural Development and Food, and Tourism; the International Military Sports Council (CISM); the Hellenic Olympic Committee; the International Olympic Academy; the Greek National Tourism Organisation; the National Olympic Academy; the Association of Olympic Participants; and the Hellenic Olympians Association.
The organizers warmly thank their volunteers and the countless residents from all villages along the Route of Truce who offer local treats; the Volunteer Corps of Samaritans, Rescuers and Lifeguards of the Amaliada Regional Department of the Hellenic Red Cross; Dr. Panagiotis Bourlidis and the volunteer doctors who supported him; the EKAB ambulance crews; and the Hellenic Police, whose traffic police officers—men and women—tirelessly accompanied the runners throughout all activities. They also thank the Scouts of Ilioupoli, E.O.P.Y.D. Vrachnaikon and S.E.DI.P. of Western Achaia.
Communication Sponsors: ERT, ERT-3, First Programme, ERA SPOR, ERT Pyrgos, Panhellenic Association of Sports Journalists (PSAT), Athens 9.84, RunningNews.gr, OVImagazine, apopseis.gr, Greekteachers.
Official Supporters: AMKE AIGEAS, Avance Car Rental, Befon, Loux, Dirfys, Karavias Art Insurance, PTL Papageorgiou Transport Logistics, PMS Security.
Suppliers – Supporters: Spiroulina PLATENSIS, DOLE bananas, Biolis, BRINTZIKI ESTATE, FarGeco Hellas, KALOMOIRIS ILVIGAL, UNION OF COOPERATIVES PANAIGIALEIOS (SUPER 36).
Finally, we warmly thank the Cultural Association of Ancient Ilida “Ancient Ilida”, the Cultural Association of Kalyvia Ilida “Ilida”, as well as the Parents and Guardians Association of the Primary School of Avgeio, for their very important contribution to the Opening Ceremony and to the Ifitos Run.
