Following the 3-month shutdown that was imposed by the Greek health authorities to contain the coronavirus outbreak, museums across the country have finally reopened.

 

The Public National Health Organization (EODY) and the Ministry of Culture & Sports have collaborated extensively to ensure a 2 and 1.5-meter distance among all visitors inside and outside respectively, is maintained at all times. Other measures include the mandatory use of protective face masks and an 8-people group tour maximum.

 

The Acropolis Museum President, Professor Dimitris Pantermalis, stated: "the closure of the Acropolis Museum was not only unpredictable, it was a huge shock (...), but ultimately this downtime became rather creative." He said that a lot of maintenance work took place as well as improvements in infrastructure and lighting, so that now "we are moving towards the opening of the museum completely renewed," he noted.

 

eDirector of the National Archaeological Museum, Maria Lagogianni, told ANA-MPA that "we want to ensure employees feel and actually are safe, but also that visitors can enjoy the museum knowing that their health safety is not at risk." Strictly scheduled visits and controlling visitor flow is key to offering a safe museum tour, she underlined.


To read this article in full, please visit: amna.gr

About The Festival 

The Athens & Epidaurus Festival is the foremost public cultural organization in Greece and one of the oldest active festivals in Europe. Spanning 65 years, the Festival has welcomed some of the greatest music, dance, and theatre artists of the international and local scene, attracting large audiences from around the world.

Up to the year 2005, the Festival was held exclusively at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens and the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus. In the summer of 2006, five brand-new theatre stages were launched at the Peiraios 260 industrial venue which has since emerged as a major springboard for contemporary art. Furthermore, artistic productions and site-specific performances are presented in other venues all over the Attica region, under the banner of the Festival.

Nowadays, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus focuses on music, with special emphasis on celebrated orchestras and famous soloists, while the Peiraios 260 venue highlights the latest trends in theatre and dance, inviting internationally acclaimed, avant-garde creative teams, and commissioning new works by talented Greek artists.

The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus features primarily ancient tragedies and comedies by established Greek and international directors. Meanwhile, the Little Theatre of Ancient Epidaurus, whose reins were gradually handed over to the Athens & Epidaurus Festival by the Friends of Music Society in the early 2000s, focuses on experimental music and musical/theatrical performances.

Under its current Artistic Director Katerina Evangelatos, the Athens & Epidaurus Festival aims to expand its international scope through co-productions with world-renowned theatre and dance companies, as well as showcasing Greek artists, supporting artistic research in the area of performing arts, and connecting research with audience development.

---

XpatAthens is proud to be a Media Sponsor of the Athens & Epidaurus Festival

---

 

Athens Photo Festival and the Benaki Museum on 25 May agreed on new dates for the Festival, in 2020. Athens Photo Festival will be held from 16 September to 15 November 2020. Additionally, as a result of difficulties experienced by applicants due to the coronavirus outbreak, the deadline for submissions has been extended to 30 June 2020.

The Festival is accepting submissions from artists and photographers for its exhibition program. The selected works will be exhibited at the Benaki Museum / Pireos 138, one of the most prestigious museums in Greece.

The Festival will feature the work of emerging and established artists from all over the world, with the aim to reflect the diversity of photography and visual culture today. Exploring diverse cultural, artistic, social, and political perspectives, Athens Photo Festival is committed to offering a dynamic platform for the exchange of ideas, artistic expression, and engagement with photography in all its forms.

The call is open to all the image-based genres, ranging from fine art and conceptual to documentary and photojournalism, installations, interactive and multimedia works. This year's exhibition program will be composed of a diverse selection of over 80 image-based projects, selected through this international call for proposals.

Athens Photo Festival will continue to follow the updates on COVID-19 closely, while adhering to the guidelines put forward by our governments, to ensure the measures we take will help protect our artists, teams, and audience.

The festival was founded in 1987 on the initiative of Stavros Moresopoulos, under the name International Month of Photography in Athens, as a biennial event. It is the longest-running festival of photography in Greece, and one of the five oldest of its kind in the world. In 1997, the festival turned into an annual event. In 2008, it was officially renamed to Athens Photo Festival in order to reflect upon the festival’s expanding program which now embraced a wide range of events that are completely in tune with today’s social and aesthetics needs.

Throughout the years, the festival has remained faithful to its founding purpose, raising audiences awareness of photography and acting as a catalyst for lens-based practice within Greece and a showcase for contemporary trends, a new talent from all over the world, and the very best of Greek photography. The extensive documentation from its over 30-year history of festival activities, including photos, texts, and information about the artists will be soon available online on this website.

"Greek Summer is a state of mind… This year, enjoy your Greek summer wherever you are…" is the message of the most recent Greek tourism campaign.

 

The campaign was presented last week at Cine Aegli open-air cinema in Athens. It included the screening of the campaign's new video to representatives of tourism organizations, politicians, the media, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

According to Marketing Greece CEO Ioanna Dretta, the campaign aims to send a positive message and inspire travelers around the world to come to Greece whenever possible.

 

"Through the campaign we aim to create a lasting expectation. To build a new brand and create a desire (for travel) that can be fulfilled for all once the conditions allow it. The Greek summer will always be here," Dretta stated before the screening.

To read this article in full, please visit: gtp.gr

XpatAthens works with writers, bloggers, cultural platforms, and local media houses in order to give our readers unique, useful, and up-to-date content.

We are always looking to meet and connect with new content contributors. If you believe that your content would be a positive addition to XpatAthens, click here to learn more about working with us!

---

Who Is Eleni Maria Georgiou?
 

 

 

 

The measures for COVID-19 continue to ease. Following high schools, kindergartens and primary schools have also opened. There goes another fortress. I know parents who breathed a sigh of relief when they heard the news. "At last young children will get back into their daily routine and we will be able to get to our jobs and have some time for ourselves. " I also know others who were questioning whether to send their children to school for what will actually be two weeks of classes. In all honesty, it’s not about children learning new things it’s about taking away from them the pressure that this whole situation with COVID-19 has created.

And then there are families with members in the high risk group of people. What should they do? Should they risk it? The children will of course be happy to see their classmates and their teachers again. They will be happy to hug each other. Oops, here it is again. Hugs. This is forbidden though. We have all discussed this with our children. Yes, but how do you keep children away from each other, especially young ones? Hugs and kisses are their world. Lots of dilemmas. Many questions. We are called to decide upon very important issues every day. It's not easy. We need to weigh the pros and cons, but again, it's not easy. The measures may be more relaxed but the pressure is camouflaged and continues in a different form.

As most of us are slowly coming out of the quarantine, we are a bit numb. After all, what is the right thing to do? What is the safe thing to do? We know there is not 100% safety or protection guarantee. They simply don’t exist. And that's what worries many of us. We each face different challenges. Your priorities are different from mine. That’s exactly what we need to take into consideration and base our forward moving on.

If there’s a topic you’re interested in and would like to learn more about you may contact me via email. For more information about me and my work check the XpatAthens Directory or visit my website. Because this is your life!

The award-winning sports tourism event returns for the 8th consecutive year on October 16-18, 2020 in Messinia, Pylos and Costa Navarino. Through its global message “sports unite people”, the event will offer the opportunity of discovering the magic of the Messinian landscape and the history highlighted by the top sports celebration, to people of all ages from Greece and abroad.

Participants will have a chance of running one of the top 21.1km Greek Half Marathons, along with Greek-American ultramarathon Dean Karnazes. In addition, they can choose between the 10km route or the joyful 5km route which is also suited for dynamic walking. Athletes starting from the Navarino Dunes of Costa Navarino, will run along the picturesque coast towards Pylos and cross the magnificent Voidokilia beach while passing by the Gialova lagoon. This is one of the most significant wetlands in Europe. It is the southernmost station of migratory birds in the Balkans to and from Africa that has been designated as a Natura 2000 nature protected area. The Half Marathon is the only trail running route in Greece that combines soil, sand, and asphalt. The event offers race timing for all runners. All races are co-organized with Messiniakos Gymnastic Club and EAS SEGAS Peloponnese Region.

On the same day, the 1km children’s race will be held in two groups, for children 10-14 years old and kids up to 9 years of age.

The impressive 5km route that emerges by the sea, as well as all other routes, have been planned by the former marathon runner, current classic marathon course national record holder, running coach, and director of All About Running, Nikos Polias.

Navarino Challenge has remained at the forefront of the 2020 Tourism Awards, claiming the highest distinction in Greek tourism by winning the Platinum Award in the Sustainability category. The significant accolades received by the event, also include the Gold Award, once more, in the Sports Tourism category and the Silver Award in the Integrated Marketing Campaign category. The Platinum award is the first one to be received by a sports tourism event in Greece.

Distinctions do not stop for one of the top sports tourism events in Europe since it was also the first sports tourism event in Greece to win an award in the “Best In Wellness” category at the International Travel &Tourism Awards by WTM London last year.

In the context of this year’s recognition, Active Media Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Akis Tsolis stated: “Our most recent distinction highlights the innovative sustainability initiatives that we have implemented in a sports tourism event, for the first time in Greece. Our excellent collaboration with Costa Navarino, all cooperating bodies, the Municipality of Pylos-Nestor, businessmen from Pylos and Messinia as well as our sponsors, indicates more than ever, the importance and value of solid strategic relations. Despite the unprecedented conditions we are experiencing, sports tourism is not only an integral part of the Greek tourism product, that we all need to protect, but something even more valuable for the future. There is considerable room for growth in outdoor sporting activities, which promote economic and social development for local communities, while highlighting the unique cultural elements of each place”.

---

Early bird 40% discount!
Register today!

---

 

Runners can act promptly and take advantage of the early bird offer on registrations until July 31. Athletes can register in the Half Marathon with a 40% discount and find out about valid early bird offers in all other routes. Children’s race is held at no cost. The event, always prioritizing the participants themselves, offers a refund of their registration costs until August 31.

More information on premium accommodation packages will be announced in the coming weeks.

The event continues to innovate for another year by having Samsung Electronics Hellas as its Official Technology Partner. Following last year’s successful contribution towards the organization of a paperless event, Samsung returns with the top Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra, which change the way videos and photos are captured through their 8K Video and the most advanced 100X Zoom, offering brand new features and impressive shots. At the same time, the Galaxy Z Flip, the first full screen folding smartphone, with flexible glass and excellent design, offers convenience and unique style.

Samsung and Navarino Challenge will offer all participants the opportunity to purchase the Galaxy S20, S20+, and Galaxy Z Flip, with a 20% discount.

Navarino Challenge is held under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization and is co-organized by Costa Navarino , The Westin Resort Costa Navarino, and Active Media Group with the support of Pylos-Nestor Municipality.

As every year, the event will be held, in accordance with the strict standards set by the Greek Ministry of Tourism, the General Secretariat of Sports and the relevant sports Federations.

Always having the safety and health of all participants and staff as its main priority, Navarino Challenge will be planned and delivered based on the protocol of races, which will ensure public health and safety of all parties involved. Moreover, the event is already strengthened with top consultants specialized in this area.

Official technology partner: Samsung

Official sports supplier: Luanvi

Official supporters: Poseidonia, Pylos-Nestor Municipality

Partners: Fysiotek Sports Lab, Karalis Beach Hotel

Official rental partner: Avance 3

Athletic partners: Explore Messinia, FitnessArt, Navarino Golf Academy, Navarino Outdoors, Navarino Racquet Academy, Pilates by Mandy, Red Swim Academy, Swim Academy, Triantafyllidis Beach Arena, Vizantinos target sport club

CSR Partner: Captain Vasilis and Carmen Konstantakopoulos Foundation

Assisted by: VitaNTravel, Karalis City Hotel & Spa, Lifeguard Patrol, Pylos Association of Enterprises for Tourism Development, Maritime Athletic Pylos Association “Nestor”, Target Security

Sports Production: Active Media Group

 

YouTube Channel

Hashtags: #navarinochallenge #costanavarino #sportsunitepeople #eatwell #runwell #livewell

Photo Credit: Babis Giritziotis

Costa Navarino is the prime, sustainable destination in the Mediterranean, located in the Greek region of Messinia in the southwest Peloponnese. One of the most unspoiled and breathtaking seaside Mediterranean landscapes, this area has been shaped by 4,500 years of history.

Its philosophy is driven by a genuine desire to promote Messinia, while protecting and preserving its natural beauty and heritage. It will comprise a number of distinct sites featuring five-star deluxe hotels, luxury private residences, conference facilities, spa and thalassotherapy centres, signature golf courses, as well as a wide range of unique year-round activities for adults and children.

Navarino Dunes, the first area, is home to two luxury five-star hotels, The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort, and The Westin Resort Costa Navarino; Navarino Residences, a collection of luxury villas for private ownership; and The Residences at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino – fully furnished resort apartments for sale; the signature golf course The Dunes Course; Anazoe Spa, a 4,000m 2 spa and thalassotherapy centre; the state-of-the-art conference centre House of Events; specially designed facilities for children; and a variety of gastronomy venues, sports, outdoor and cultural activities.

Navarino Bay, the second area, is home to the signature golf course, The Bay Course and to the earth- sheltered Bay Clubhouse, while an ultra-luxury, all-suite and pool villas resort is currently under construction, alongside an upscale, vibrant, lifestyle resort at the nearby site Navarino Waterfront. At Navarino Hills, two new 18-hole signature golf courses are also being constructed.

The event, which praises the volcanic island of Cyclades, for its sports, culture, unique architecture, and history, will be held for the 6th consecutive year on October 2-4, 2020. Santorini Experience will attract professional and amateur athletes for another year and promote sports and Santorini as a destination, with respect to the environment and the island’s traditional architecture. This year’s races will adopt an eco-friendly approach, with a strategy that involves plastic-free and environmentally friendly initiatives.

On Saturday, October 3, 2020, participants will have the opportunity to run on the Caldera, overlooking the enchanting images of the volcano and the background scenery of Imerovigli, Firostefani, and Oia. Specifically, the 10 km route is addressed to runners with experience in distances, while the 15 km route “Aristides Alafouzos” is ideal for those who love strength, endurance, and adrenaline. All routes start from the desalination plant in Oia, mainly including parts of soil, and finish in Oia. The breathtaking routes are designed by the former marathon runner, Greek classic route record holder, running trainer, and director of All About Running, Nikos Polias.

On Sunday, October 4, 2020, participants will have the opportunity to swim from the volcano to the old port of Fira, while having the imposing view of the island in front of them, in the 1.5 miles open water swimming race (2.4 km). The event will look after all athletes by adding the high-quality safety lifeguard buoy, giving them an extra motive to choose Santorini Experience. The swimming route will be held, as every year, with absolute safety in the captivating waters of Santorini, where the average water temperature in October, reaches 20-22 degrees Celsius. Lifeguard Patrol’s specialized lifeguards and lifeboats will contribute to the safety of the race for another year. Different categories will be formed depending on the final number of entries, while a separate category for those wearing wetsuits will be added. The race will be held under the technical direction of Greek national swimming coach with Olympic and World Championship distinctions, Nikos Gemelos, with the approval of the Hellenic Swimming Federation, according to FINA regulations.

The event that has already been distinguished in the past in Greece and abroad, with an international award at the Travel & Hospitality Awards, the Ermis Awards, and the Sports Marketing Awards, conquered for the first time a top position at the 2020 Tourism Awards. Specifically, the successful sports tourism event won the Gold Award in the category of Sea Tourism for implementing its innovative initiatives.

In the context of this year’s award, Santorini Mayor, Mr. Antonios Sigalas stated, among other things: “The award given to the event of Santorini Experience by the acclaimed Tourism Awards institution, is an exceptional honorary distinction for Santorini. Our Municipality implements a Complete Plan for the Management of Santorini’s Destination, having adopted the strategy of sustainable development with an emphasis on the protection of the natural and man-made environment, the emergence of our cultural wealth, innovation, and quality of infrastructure. Our recognition by a tourism excellence institution, such as the Tourism Awards, strengthens the brand of Santorini, reinforces the island’s position among the world’s top destinations, and motivates us to continue our actions in the field of quality tourism”.

Respectively, the President of the Municipal Sports Cultural Environmental Organization of Santorini (DAPPOS), Mr. Vassilios Alafouzos stressed: “This award belongs to all citizens of Santorini that have embraced the event. On our behalf, we will support any effort that fosters sports and promotes Greek tourism”. 

Register for the 15km “Aristides Alafouzos” and 10km running routes, as well as the 1.5 miles swimming route, and take advantage of the early bird prices with a 25% discount. The offer is valid until 31/7. The event, always prioritizing the participants themselves, offers a refund of their registration costs until August 31. 

Driven by this unprecedented situation, the top sports tourism event Santorini Experience is expected to support, this year more than ever, Santorini’s sports tourism during the month of October through a number of actions.

As every year, the event will be held, in accordance with the strict standards set by the Greek Ministry of Tourism, the General Secretariat of Sports and all relevant sports Federations. Santorini Experience will be planned and delivered based on the protocol of races, which will ensure public health and safety of all parties involved.

Besides, the safety and health of all participants remain its main priority.

For another year, Luanvi is the event’s official sports supplier. 
Boatmen Union Santorini is the event’s official supporter. 
Avance is the official rental partner. 
Santorini Experience is assisted by Lifeguard Patrol. 

Up to this point, this year’s event is supported with special offers and prices by the following hospitality sponsors: Athina Luxury Suites, Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa, Canaves Oia, West East Suites, Andronis Arcadia, K&K Unique Holiday Homes, Sienna Resort, Marvarit Suites, Santo Houses, 270 Oia’s View, Fanouris Condo, Monolithia, Casa Iphigenia, La Mer Suites & Spa, Antinea Suites & Spa, Beach Boutique Hotel, Bloom Travel, Loizos Stylish Residencies, Iokasti Villa, Olive Cave Houses, Panorama Studios & Suites, Esperas Santorini and Mesana Stone House, while collaborations continue.

Tangopapas.com is the event’s travel partner.

Santorini Experience is co-organized by the Municipality of Santorini, Municipal Sports Cultural Environmental Organization of Santorini (DAPPOS), and Active Media Group.

More info at: www.santorini-experience.com

Facebook Page

Instagram Page

Twitter Account

YouTube Channel

Official Hashtag: #SantoriniExperience

Photo Credit: Babis Giritziotis

---

XpatAthens is proud to be a Media Sponsor of Santorini Experience

---

One by one, municipalities in Greece are announcing the reopening of playgrounds, as the Hellenic Interior Ministry has granted them to reopen.

 

Playgrounds were closed for the public at the beginning of lockdown restriction measures. The circular issued by the Interior Ministry states that for the reopening of playgrounds, all playgrounds should "meet all safety requirements," "in full accordance with the existing health conditions per region and the observance of the outlined and enforced protection measures."

 

According to a statement, the Culture, Sports & Youth Organization of the City of Athens (OPANDA) will proceed with the reopening of all playgrounds in Athens. "OPANDA has taken all necessary measures to meet hygiene requirements and follow the operating rules of the premises, following the Joint Ministerial Decision and the instructions of the Health Scientific Committee," it is emphasized in the announcement. Playgrounds will be open from Monday to Sunday from 08:00 to 22:00.

 

Meanwhile, the Municipality of Athens continues to plan the reconstruction of 19 playgrounds, which will be delivered by the end of July–remodeled according to the latest safety standards, suitable and accessible to children with mobility difficulties.

Originally posted in Greek on ethnos.gr 

Translated by Codico Lab

The SNF Run returns, this year in virtual form!

This summer, get ready for a powerful comeback from the SNF Run. Adapting to virtually unprecedented times, the popular race is going virtual for the first time, inviting us to run wherever we are to support our local hospitals. We’ll keep our distance, but cover greater ones all over Greece, always together and always for a good cause!

To experience the Virtual SNF Run, pick a day between Monday, June 15, and Sunday, June 21 to run your own 5-km route, then upload your results. You decide where to run: in a park, on city streets, on your favorite beach, on the treadmill, in your garden, or on the stairs at home.

Like every year, this year’s race has a charitable mission. When registering, those who wish can choose to support their local hospital. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) will add double the amount contributed by runners, tripling the overall size of the donation.

Whether you run by yourself, with your family, or with your friends, take a selfie on your run and share it with the hashtag #SNFRun. 

On the evening of International Olympic Day, June 23, at 21:00 (GMT+3), the announcement of the Virtual SNF Run results will be streamed as part of the Summer Nostos Festival RetroFuture Edition in an event featuring your best snapshots from the race. The event will be presented by iMEdD Managing Director, SNF DIALOGUES Executive Director, and journalist Anna-Kynthia Bousdoukou.

More information on how to register will be announced soon at SNFestival.org.

Stay tuned, stay connected.