The South Aegean has become Greece's first Olympic Region following the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Hellenic Olympic Committee and the Region at the committee's headquarters.
The partnership aims to spread Olympic values, support sports federations, develop community sports activities, improve sporting infrastructure and connect sport with education, culture, tourism and local development.
Hellenic Olympic Committee President Isidoros Kouvelos and South Aegean Regional Governor Giorgos Hatzimarkos signed the agreement on 23 June, as part of Olympic Day celebrations, launching the “South Aegean–Olympic Region” programme.
A second memorandum was signed between the Olympic Committee and the Union of Greek Regions. Mr Hatzimarkos signed in his capacity as the Union's President, opening the way for institutional cooperation between the Olympic movement and regions throughout Greece.
The event brought together sports federation representatives, Olympic medallists, local government officials and representatives of the Greek sporting movement and its organisations.
The initiative creates a framework for supporting federations and clubs, promoting community sport, making better use of sporting facilities and spreading Olympism's values throughout the country.
Giorgos Hatzimarkos: a partnership centred on people
After signing, the Governor said:
“Our cooperation with the Hellenic Olympic Committee through the Olympic Regions initiative marks the start of a new endeavour with exceptionally worthy goals. Alongside Olympic ideals, it serves real needs, dreams and prospects, sending society a message of effort within a spirit of cooperation and cohesion.
“With today's signing of the memorandum between the Hellenic Olympic Committee and the Union of Greek Regions, we establish an alliance centred on people, social progress and health.
“Our country's regions, present at every major challenge, responded to the invitation from the committee and President Isidoros Kouvelos with enthusiasm and creativity. By joining forces and planning together, geography becomes an ally and Greece, from end to end, becomes a neighbourhood of fair competition and respect.
“I thank the Hellenic Olympic Committee for its trust and congratulate it on this initiative.”
Isidoros Kouvelos: sport should leave a lasting legacy
The Hellenic Olympic Committee President said:
“Today's initiative is particularly important. The committee's cooperation with the Union of Greek Regions and the South Aegean Region is a first, meaningful step — one we want to continue, bringing specific actions, helping federations, supporting clubs and giving new life to local communities.
“The South Aegean–Olympic Region programme exemplifies this new approach. It shows how sport can meet education, culture, tourism, local development and, above all, the people of each region.
“When a region invests in sport, it invests in residents' health, young people and its outward-looking profile, not simply facilities or events.
“That is what interests us most: sport should not remain merely a single day's event or competition. It should leave something behind, creating habits, participation and opportunities.”
A link with regions and municipalities
Deputy Interior Minister Vasilis Spanakis also attended the signing ceremony. He said:
“Today, 23 June, is no ordinary day. It is a starting point, because the Hellenic Olympic Committee is opening its arms to local government.
“The committee, which under President Isidoros Kouvelos has achieved remarkable work in just a few months, is now forming 345 alliances: with the 13 regions and, through them, the country's 332 municipalities.
“We all know how pivotal local government is in promoting sport and highlighting issues affecting the sporting community. Today we are sending that message of cooperation.”
Kostas Thanos, Chairman of the committee's Olympic Regions Commission, said:
“Today, Olympic Day, is a particularly important day for Greek sport. We are not only honouring Olympism's different values, but taking a meaningful step towards new partnerships capable of genuinely helping athletes, local communities and the country's sporting federations.
“As Chairman of the Hellenic Olympic Committee's Olympic Regions Commission, I warmly thank all my fellow commission members. From our first day, we have all worked with dedication, consistency and belief in a common goal: to bring the Olympic movement closer to Greece's regions, and the regions closer to Greek sport.”
As Greece's first Olympic Region, the South Aegean is strengthening its development, social and outward-looking role, investing in sport as a source of education, health, participation, cooperation and inspiration for residents and the islands' younger generation.
