Vision

After the commonly accepted successful organization of the 2004 Olympic Games, our main goal is to take advantage of the state of the art facilities which remained as legacy of the Games, as well as the improvements in the general infrastructure of the country after the Olympics, in order to attract more mega sporting events. The utilization of the Olympic venues even in ways, which may be different from their original usage during the Olympics, ensures their viability and sustainability for many years to come. The 2007 UEFA Champions League Final at the Olympic Stadium of Athens, the 2006 Track and Field World Cup in Thessaloniki, the European Championships of Gymnastics, the 2006 Canoe/Kayak Slalom World Cup in Athens, the Euro league Basketball Final Four 2007, the IAAF 2009 World Athletics Final in Thessaloniki are some of the world-class events which help us in maintaining our Olympic momentum.

We have established close working relationships with both the Ministries of Education and Tourism Development.
The example of our joint organization with the Ministry of Education of the 2006 World High School Games, “The Gymnasiade”, as well as my active involvement with FISU (International University Sports Federation) contribute in the establishment of international synergies in the areas of Sport and Education and at the same time upgrade and promote University Sports in our country. Our ultimate goal for the near future is to win the bid for a Universiade, which is the second largest mega event after the Olympic Games. We are very close in the undertaking of the World University Wrestling, Golf and Sailing Championship.
Sport tourism is one of the fastest evolving trends of today and as you know very well, Greece’s number one industry in Tourism.
We are in the process of putting together a joint committee from the two ministries in order to follow a common course of action in specific areas such as: Active Sport Tourism, Training Sport Tourism, Marine Sport Tourism, Events or Spectator Sport Tourism meaning tourists who come as spectators to attend mega sporting events, Pilgrimage or Nostalgia Sport Tourism such as visits to sport monuments and shrines or stadiums like “The Kallimarmaron Panathinaikon Stadium”, the ancient sport site of “Olympia” ( the birthplace of the Olympic Games ) as well as the sport sites of the remaining 5 Olympic cities. Last but not least is the High Economic Profile Sport Tourism, which includes golf, yachting, tennis e.t.c.

OPAP S.A. (the greek betting company) is an independent semiprivate organization, which has its own specific policy and planning. We maintain a close cooperation with OPAP and the European Lotteries Association, in terms of fighting against illegal betting, which has showcased an enormous expansion over the last few years, mostly over the Internet. Our position is clear. Nobody except OPAP S.A can conduct betting in Greece. This would constitute a clear infringement of the related Greek legislation.

Greece’s sporting face is reflected by the level of organization of all the international events and championships, which are organized in the country. In addition, the General Secretariat of Sport develops strategies-alliances with other nations designed to share best practice and also seeks the signs of Memoranda of Understanding with other countries, in order to succeed a mutually beneficial exchange of technical expertise and individuals. I have recently undersigned the Game Statute of Southeastern European Countries, the Game Statute of Black Sea Countries that replaced the Balkan Games, and the Sport Collaboration Protocol between Greece and Turkey.
Our main goal is to optimize the organization of the 2 most popular professional sports, soccer and basketball and also to show case excellence in every international event that we attract and organize in our country. At the same time we will definitely not put aside competitions of smaller sports, youth sports and sports for all.