THE ROUTE OF HERCULES was held for the second time on
Saturday, April 13, 2024, in a deeply emotional atmosphere,
led by Yiannis Kouros, Maria Karpathaki and Spyros Andriopoulos,
immediately following the symbolic ceremony of the laying down of arms.

The athletes set off from the square of Agrapidchori on Saturday morning
heading towards Ancient Ilida, passing through the villages of
Latas, Efira, Oraia, Keramidia and Dafni, and concluded at the theatre
of Ancient Ilida, where commemorative awards were presented to the leaders and
medals were awarded to all participants.

On the morning of Saturday, April 13, 2024, a symbolic ceremony of the laying down
of arms took place in the square of Agrapidchori in Pineia, opposite the hill of
Armatova. This hill was, in antiquity, the place where athletes and spectators of
the Olympic Games left their weapons before entering the “sacred land of Zeus,
Ilida,” unarmed.

Two “ancient warriors” laid down their weapons following the symbolic interruption
of their conflict by a priestess. She then handed them a branch of wild olive and,
together with other priestesses, performed a ritual dance highlighting the
significance of the cessation of hostilities. The two warriors subsequently handed
the olive branches—an eternal symbol of peace and of the ancient Olympic Games—to
ultra–long-distance runner and modern hemerodromos Yiannis Kouros and to
Maria Karpathaki, Taekwondo World Champion, #BEACTIVE ambassador,
and coach of the Armed Forces and Security Services National Taekwondo Team, thus
giving the signal for the start of the Route of Hercules.

Among those present at the event were the President of the Municipal Council of Ilida,
Theoni Georgopoulou, the Deputy Mayor of Pineia,
Kostas Anagnostopoulos, the President of the Local Community,
Chrysanthos Bantounas, expatriates who had travelled from Athens for the
occasion, and a large number of attendees.

The priestesses were members of the Dance School of Evita Keramida.

All events were organized by the Federation of Olympia (AMKE), 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 a cooperating support body, supported by
#BEACTIVE, and held under the auspices of the Ministries of National Defence;
Education, Religious Affairs and Sports; Rural Development and 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; the Hellenic Olympians Association; and the
Hellenic Olympians Association. Technical support was provided by the War Museum,
with media sponsors including ERT, ERT3, ERA SPORT 101.8, ERT Pyrgos, Proto Programma,
PSAT, RunningNews.gr, OVI, apopseis.gr and Greekteachers, and volunteer support from
the Hellenic Red Cross Samaritans–Rescuers–Lifeguards of the Amaliada Regional
Department, the Hellenic Scouts – Ilioupoli Scouts, E.O.P.Y.D. Vrachnaikon,
RUN AMALIADA, among others.

We warmly thank the Hellenic Police for their support throughout the events, our
doctors, the Hellenic Red Cross Regional Department of Pyrgos, and the Hellenic Red
Cross Samaritans–Rescuers–Lifeguards of the Amaliada branch, who were continuously
by the runners’ side, providing medical coverage. The Corps is today the largest
and most active volunteer organization for first aid, rescue and lifeguarding in
Greece, with vast experience in such events, and it was a great reassurance and
honor to have their support once again.

In our effort to keep alive the history and values of our land, we would like to
warmly thank our supporters for their support and contribution, which significantly
helps promote and achieve our mission: Loux, bottled water Dirfys, AVANCE car rental,
BEFON, AMKE AIGEAS, DOLE, KTIMA BRINTZIKI, the Panachaiki Union of Cooperatives (for
the excellent currants), Kalomoiris ILVIGAL, and finally the OHE/BAA in the territorial
unit of the Municipalities of Pyrgos, Ilida and Ancient Olympia, “Western Greece”
Programme, co-financed by Greece and the European Union, NSRF 2021–2027.