SYMPOSIUM & ART EXHIBITION – ROUTE OF TRUCE 2021
Honoring National Benefactors Averoff and Zappas and distinguished athletes in Fencing, Archery and Shooting
Contributing to the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution of 1821 and seeking to keep alive the history and values of our land, the Federation of Olympia organized an event and an art exhibition at the Athens War Museum entitled “Áor, kopís, sfágano, tóxon and óplon”.
The purpose of the event was to honor the two great national benefactors Georgios Averoff (through the Evangelos Averoff–Tositsas Foundation) and Evangelos Zappas (through the Committee of Olympians and Bequests), as they were key pioneers in the realization of the Modern Olympic Games held in Athens and leading figures of the national benefactors’ movement. With the sponsorships of these two great benefactors, the Panathenaic Stadium was restored and the first modern Olympic Games could be held in Greece; the Zappeion Hall was also built—the first building worldwide constructed specifically to serve Olympic needs—while distinguished athletes in Fencing, Archery and Shooting were also honored.
The art exhibition titled “Áor, kopís, sfágano, tóxon and óplon” is dedicated to Olympic values, to the sports honored, to the great national benefactors, and to sculptor and painter Dimitris Talagani, who passed away from COVID-19 and who celebrated the ancient Greek spirit, Olympic ideals and the fortitude of the Greek soul.
The event opened with a welcome address by the President, Ms. Sofia Hintziou Kontogianni, who referred to the works being implemented along The Route of Truce, as well as the actions carried out and those planned for 2021.
Speakers included Dr. of Philosophy Fotis Christou, on the topic: “To wrestle for virtue and freedom”. He stressed that Greece strives to grasp its spirit, to discover who it is, and historically—until today—to find its athletic identity, which is handed down to us through national tradition, political life and the traditional way of life of the klepht and the armatolos. He referred to the “pallikari” of 1821, and emphasized that athletic striving is part of the Greek’s nature and that the Greek strives to become better—an ethos preserved throughout every era of Hellenism.
Journalist, historian and author Mr. Titos Athanasiadis, on the topic: “The Olympic Idea and Greek Benefaction”, made extensive reference to the contribution of great Greek benefactors to the reconstruction of the Greek State, as well as to the revival of Olympic ideals and the rebirth of the Olympic Games.
Immediately afterwards, the President of the International Olympic Academy, Mr. Isidoros Kouvelos, honoring the great national benefactor Georgios Averoff, presented the honorary plaque to Ms. Natalia Averoff–Tositsa.
Next, the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Mr. Spilios Livanos, honoring the great national benefactor Evangelos Zappas, presented the honorary plaque to Ms. Chrysanthi Vagena, expert, Ambassador Counsellor A’ of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Honorary Ambassador, and Chair of the Board of the Committee of Olympians and Bequests.
Within the framework of the Olympic Day event, the “Fair Play” award of the International Olympic Truce Centre was presented by its Director, Dr. Konstantinos Filis, to Mr. Stefanos Diamantis.
Wheelchair tennis champion Mr. Diamantis—although he could have won the 8th championship of his career—proceeded with an act of noble sportsmanship and fair play when some fellow athletes were unable to participate due to technical issues. Following his initiatives so that the remaining athletes could take part at a later time, the Hellenic Wheelchair Tennis Championship was postponed.
The honorary awards began with fencing athletes. Mr. Spilios Livanos (Minister of Rural Development and Food), Ms. Sofia Voultepsi (Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum), and War Museum Board member, retired Major General Aristomenis Kragkaris, presented awards to:
LEONIDAS PYRGOS, Athens 1896 – Gold Olympic medalist in Fencing (the commemorative plaque was received by the President of the Hellenic Fencing Federation, Mr. Ioannis Lignos).
DIMITRA MAGKANOUDAKI, Athens 2004 – Olympian in Fencing, for continuous support and contribution to Olympic Values.
NIKI SIDIROPOULOU, Athens 2004 – Olympian in Fencing.
IOANNA CHRISTOU, Athens 2004 – Olympian in Fencing.
PANAGIOTIS TRIANTAFYLLOU, Rio de Janeiro 2016 – Silver Paralympic medalist in Fencing.
ISMINI PETRIDOU, the first recorded woman fencer in the Hellenic Fencing Federation.
IRIS CHRISTINA VLACHOUTSIKOU, distinguished fencer, for her continuous support and contribution to Olympic Values.
The honorary awards continued with Shooting athletes, honored by the President of the International Olympic Academy Isidoros Kouvelos, the Minister of Rural Development and Food Spilios Livanos, and the Director of ASAED, Navy Captain Spyros Andriopoulos:
PANAGIOTIS XANTHAKOS, Mexico 1986 – Olympian in Shooting.
MENELAOS MICHAELIDIS–PANTELEAKIS, Mexico 1986 – Olympian in Shooting.
IGNATIOS PSYLLAKIS, Los Angeles 1984 – Olympian in Shooting.
AGI KASOUMI, Olympian in Shooting, for her continuous contribution and presence at Olympic Games (she has participated in six consecutive Olympiads).
ANNA KORAKAKI, Rio de Janeiro 2016 – Gold Olympic medalist in Shooting and the first Greek woman to win two medals at one Olympic Games. Due to her obligations abroad, the honorary plaque was received by ASAED Director, Navy Captain Spyros Andriopoulos.
PANTELIS KARASEVDAS, Athens 1896 – First Gold Olympic medalist in Military Rifle (present to receive the plaque were Mr. Ioannis Triantafyllakis, Mayor of Xiromero—seat Astakos, the athlete’s place of origin—and Karasevdas’ grandson Petros Triantafyllidis).
When handing over the honorary plaque to Mr. Ioannis Triantafyllakis and Mr. Petros Triantafyllidis, Minister Mr. Spilios Livanos highlighted not only Karasevdas’ athletic and political history (he served for many years as an MP for Aetolia-Acarnania), but also his military action in the major battles of his era.
Mayor Mr. Ioannis Triantafyllakis described Karasevdas as: the Athlete, the Peerless Soldier of Freedom and of our glorious wars, the Herald of Democracy, the Honest Wayfarer of Hellenism.
As Archery athletes were abroad for competitions, the honorary plaques were received by the President of the Hellenic Archery Federation, Ms. Elsi Skafida. The athletes honored were:
Evangelia Psarra, Athens 2004 – Olympian in Archery, for continuous contribution and presence at Olympic Games. Ms. Psarra is abroad, having qualified to participate in the Tokyo Olympic Games. She is the first Greek archer to participate in the modern Olympic Games continuously from 2000 to the present; this year will be her 6th Olympic appearance. A video greeting from the great Greek athlete was shown during the event.
FOTEINI VAVATSI, Athens 2004 – Olympian in Archery.
CHRISTOS AERIKOS, distinguished archer with gold and silver medals in European and World Championships.
ZOE PARASKEVOPOULOU, Singapore 2010 – Youth Olympic Games, Mixed Team; Silver medalist in Archery (her award will take place in Ancient Ilida, as she originates from and resides in Lechaina).
During the event, a video greeting by the President of the International Military Sports Council (CISM), Navy Captain Hervé Piccirillo, was also presented.
The Art Historian and Curator of the exhibition “Áor, kopís, sfágano, tóxon and óplon” stressed that the exhibition honors the sports of the brave, the skillful and the bold. It pays tribute to the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution and to the Fighters of 1821 who, with sacrifice and selflessness, fought to the end for the freedom of the homeland. Embracing Periander’s maxim “Honor benefactors”, it acknowledges, appreciates and rewards the generosity of the National Benefactors, Evangelos Zappas and Georgios Averoff, who strengthened the reconstruction of the State after the Revolution and contributed to the revival of the Olympic Ideal.
She warmly thanked the close friends and collaborators of the late Dimitris Talagani who contributed morally and practically to the presentation of this collection: Anna Katsaouni, Maria Fragkou, Angeliki Skoumpourdi, Giannis Bardis, Pantelis Xanthidis, Valentini Potamianou. She especially thanked Giannis Kourtos, who conveyed the creator’s thought and artistic intent in full.
Participating artists included: Voutsinas Marios, Goumas Charalambos, Zivas Nikos, Zouboulakis Petros, Kelly, Korovessi Angelika, Lagos Grigoris, Lintzeris Giorgos, Lyraraki Elli, Mitsou Vangelis, Barakou Nadia, Bardis Giannis, Pagkratidis Pagkratis, Palaska Alexandra, Papagiannis Theodoros, Papakonstantinou Alexandros, Papoutsidis Nikos–Giorgos, Patselis Altin, Patsoglou Aristeidis, Roussis Georgios, Roussis Emmanouil, Tazedaki Kaiti.
Afterwards, Dr. of Philosophy Ioanna Mastora recited ancient dedicatory texts she had selected from the Iliad, as well as traditional folk songs.
In her address, the President of the Federation of Olympia, Ms. Sofia Hintziou–Kontogianni, analyzed the works implemented along the Ilida–Olympia eco-tourism route: The Route of Truce, and referred to upcoming events.
The event concluded with remarks by War Museum Board member, retired Major General Aristomenis Kragkaris, who referred to the War Museum’s close relationship with the Federation of Olympia’s actions, as well as the Museum’s initiatives for the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution.
Attendees included: Minister of Rural Development Mr. Spilios Livanos, Minister of Migration and Asylum Ms. Sofia Voultepsi, GNTO Secretary General Mr. Fragkakis, IOA President Mr. Isidoros Kouvelos, the representative of the Metropolitan of Ilia, Archimandrite Damaskinos Petrakos (General Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece), Archery Federation President Ms. Elsi Skafida, Fencing Federation President Mr. Ioannis Lignos and Mr. Ilias Didaskalou, the representative of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, ASAED Director and CISM member, Navy Captain Spyros Andriopoulos. Greetings were sent by the Mayor of Pyrgos Mr. Panagiotis Antonakopoulos and the Ilia MP of KINAL Mr. Michalis Katrinis.
The organization was supported by numerous institutional supporters. It is 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 in the Armed Forces (ASAED), with the International Olympic Truce Centre as support partner; under the auspices of the Ministries of National Defence, Culture & Sports (General Secretariat of Sports), Interior, Rural Development and Food, and Tourism; the Region of Attica; CISM; the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC); the International Olympic Academy (IOA); GNTO; the Panhellenic Sports Press Association (PSAT); the Association of Olympians; the Hellenic Olympians Association; with the participation of #BEACTIVE; volunteer support from the Hellenic Scouts and E.O.PY.D.; and media sponsors including ERT 3, ERT Pyrgos, Athens 9.84, RunningNews.gr, OVI, apopseis.gr, GreekTeachers, etc.
The organizers warmly thank our Official Supporters for their support: GNTO, AVANCE rent a car, AMKE AIGEAS, Loux, Krinos, Fargeco, Ethniki Asfalistiki, and our supporting suppliers: Bioilis, IL.VI.GAL. KALOMOIRIS, Enosi Agrotwn Ilias IKE, Agricultural Cooperative of Koryfi.
More photos and material can be found on the “The Route of Truce” Facebook page.
