On Saturday, 9 March 2024, the 2023-2024 Olympic Preparation Awards ceremony was held at the Kallimarmaro – Panathenaic Stadium, in the framework of a unique event that brought together, just prior to the Paris Olympics, prominent athletes wearing the national colours and the children from the SOS Children’s Villages, to spend a morning immersed in sports activities, the values of Olympism and childhood joy.

This year, the A. G. Leventis Foundation Olympic Preparation Scholarship Programme –a programme that has been continuously supporting the efforts of athletes in pursuing the Olympic dream for the last 25 years– co-funded by the Hellenic Olympic Committee and supported by the Cyprus Olympic Committee and the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, awarded a total of 67 scholarships to a total of 71 athletes representing 29 federations, rewarding the efforts of those engaged in the daily arduous struggle of the Olympic preparation in Greece and Cyprus.

At the impressive site of the Kallimarmaro – Panathenaic Stadium, despite their particularly demanding pre-Olympic season schedule, 34 athletes-scholarship holders of the Programme poured their time into sharing their love for sports and encouraging the young athletes of the SOS Children’s Villages who participated in the event, thus effectively promoting the values of Olympism and solidarity. Under the guidance of the expert coaches of the “I Love Sports – Kids Athletics” programme, the children eagerly practiced new skills related to the Olympic Sports and, at the same time, they had the opportunity to meet the champions from Greece and Cyprus, who handed out autographs and medals, and shared stories from their own personal trajectory in the world of sports.

In this vein, the Chairman of the Olympic Preparation Committee, Mr. Harry David, thanked the programme partners and all participants, and stated that:

“We are together to support what is truly worth supporting: the right to pursue one’s dreams, no matter how big they might be; the struggle to become better every day and the joy of giving in every way and with all your heart.”

The event has been graced, in particular, by the presence of: Mr Spyros Capralos, HOC President; Mr George Chrysostomou, COC President; Mr Dimitrios Afendoulis, Member of the Executive Board of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation; Mr Giotis Ioannidis, COC Vice-President; Mr Manolis Kolympadis, HOC Secretary-General; Ms Eva Lianou, General Manager of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation; Mr Thomas Tokas, President of the Hellenic Golf Federation; Mr Dimitris Georgoulis, HOC Member; Mr Fotis  Kaymenakis, HOC Plenary Member; representatives of the A. G. Leventis Foundation and of the SOS Children’s Villages.

Despite their busy competition schedule, the following athletes also attended, contributing with their presence to making the event particularly memorable: Angelakis Konstantinos (Table tennis); Anastasiadou Evangelia (Rowing); Antoniou Kalia (Swimming); Gkaidatzis Petros (Rowing) ; Gkolomeev Kristian (Swimming); Goudoura Dora (Fencing); Dimopoulos Stefanos (Canoe Kayak); Emmanouilidou Polyniki (Athletics); Kalandaridis Giannis (Rowing); Karaiskos Panagiotis (Marathon); Kardara Maria (Weightlifting); Kasapoglou Lila (Trampoline); Kontou Milena (Rowing); Koumpakis Vassilis (Golf); Malkogeorgou Sofia (Artistic Swimming); Markos Dimitris (Swimming); Mavrommatis Nikos (Shooting); Messiri Nasia (Gymnastics); Mitas Makis (Shooting); Moschi Christina (Shooting); Bilas Stergios-Marios (Swimming); Bourmpou Christina (Rowing); Naskari Ariadni (Modern Pentathlon); Doudounaki Anna (Swimming); Ntouskos Stefanos (Rowing); Drisbioti Antigoni (Athletics); Palaiopanos Thanasis (Rowing); Papadopoulou Dimitra (Archery); Papakonstantinou Antonis (Rowing); Papastamos Apostolos (Swimming); Teltsidou Elisavet (Judo); Tsirikos Thanasis (Diving); Fitsiou Zoi (Rowing); Chalkiadakis Babis (Shooting); Christou Apostolos (Swimming).