13/4/2024
On Saturday morning, a symbolic laying down of arms ceremony took place in the square of Agrapidochori, in Pineia, opposite the hill of Armatova. It was held opposite the hill where, in antiquity, athletes and spectators of the Olympic Games laid down their weapons and entered unarmed the “sacred land of Zeus, Ilida.”
Two “ancient warriors” laid down their arms following the symbolic interruption of their conflict by a priestess. She then offered them a branch of wild olive and, together with other priestesses, performed a dance highlighting the importance of the cessation of hostilities. The two warriors subsequently handed over the wild olive branches—the eternal symbol of peace and of the Ancient Olympic Games—to the ultramarathon runner and modern long-distance messenger Giannis Kouros and to Maria Karpathaki, World Champion in Taekwondo, #BEACTIVE ambassador, and coach of the Armed Forces & Security Corps National Taekwondo Team, thus giving the signal for the start of the Route of Hercules.
The event was attended by the President of the Municipal Council of Ilida, Mrs. Theoni Georgopoulou, the Deputy Mayor of Pineia Mr. Kostas Anagnostopoulos, the President of the Local Community Mr. Chrysanthos Bantounas, residents originally from the area who had come from Athens for the event, and a large number of visitors.
The priestesses were from the Dance School of Mrs. Evita Keramida.
THE ROUTE OF HERCULES was held for the second time, in a highly emotional atmosphere, led by Giannis Kouros, Maria Karpathaki and Spiros Andriopoulos, immediately after the symbolic laying down of arms ceremony.
The athletes set off from the square of Agrapidokhori on Saturday morning towards Ancient Ilida. Due to the Pineios Dam (Lake Karamanlis), it was not possible to follow the ancient route; therefore, they passed through the villages of Latas, Efira, Oraia, Keramidia and Dafni, concluding at the theatre of Ancient Ilida, where commemorative awards were presented to the leaders and medals to all participants.
All events are organized by the Federation of Olympia (Non-Profit Company) 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 (ASAED), with the International Olympic Truce Centre as collaborating support body, supported by #BEACTIVE, and held under the auspices of the Ministries of National Defence, Education, Religious Affairs & Sports, Agricultural Development & Food, Tourism, the International Military Sports Council (CISM), the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC), the International Olympic Academy (IOA), the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO), the National Olympic Academy of Greece, the Association of Olympic Participants, and the Hellenic Olympians Association. Technical support was provided by the War Museum, while communication sponsors included ERT, ERT3, ERA SPORT 101.8, ERT Pyrgos, Proto Programma, PSAT, RunningNews.gr, OVI, apopseis.gr, GreekTeachers. Volunteer support was offered by the Hellenic Red Cross (Volunteer Samaritans, Rescuers and Lifeguards – Amaliada Regional Section), the Hellenic Scouts – Ilioupoli Scouts, EOPYD Vrachnaikon, RUN AMALIADA, among others.
We warmly thank the Hellenic Police for their support throughout the events, our doctors, the Hellenic Red Cross – Pyrgos Regional Section and the Hellenic Red Cross Volunteer Samaritans, Rescuers and Lifeguards – Amaliada Branch, who were constantly by the runners’ side providing medical coverage. This Corps is today the largest and most active volunteer first aid, rescue and lifeguarding organization in Greece, with extensive experience in such events, and their support once again offered great safety, reassurance and honor to the runners.
In our effort to keep alive the history and values of our land, we wish to thank our supporters for their contribution, which greatly assists in promoting and achieving our mission: Loutraki (Louxs), Dirfys bottled water, AVANCE Car Rental, BEFON, AMKE AIGEAS, DOLE, KTIMA BRINTZIKI, Panachaiki Union of Cooperatives (for the excellent currants), Kalomoiri ILVIGAL, and finally the Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI/VAA) in the spatial unit of the Municipalities of Pyrgos, Ilida and Ancient Olympia, Programme “Western Greece”, co-financed by Greece and the European Union, NSRF 2021–2027.
