“Olympic Day Run” Greece 2021: The Unique Olympic Road Running Race
The Unique Olympic Road Running Race raised the country’s position in the Olympic and tourism world map event spreading a message of global solidarity, unity and hope.
On Sunday, September 26, 2021, Thessaloniki was at the center of the Olympic and tourism world map with the “Olympic Day Run” Greece. The only Olympic Road Running Race in the country, was organized for the 4th year under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee to celebrate the International Olympic Day, spreading a message of global solidarity, unity and hope.
The entire Olympic family was at the event’s starting line
Olympians, Paralympians, distinguished athletes and coaches, sports clubs and associations from all over the country, as well as active citizens, gave an appointment at the starting line for the supreme Olympic road running event of the country, In the utmost covid-safe Olympic event, people of all ages ran honoring the Olympic spirit and ‘fair play’. The Olympic Day Run GREECE joined its forces with “The Smile of the Child” in order to offer more smiles to children who need it. With every registration in the social contribution packages of the 10, 5 or 2 km races, participants offered 3 euros to the Organization’s continuous effort so that all children can have everything they deserve and are entitled to.
The 4th Olympic Day Run Greece, bearing the hallmark of the Olympic cycles, was held with a health & safety protocol approved by the Health Committee of the General Secretariat of Sports and the responsible health bodies. There was a mass-participation of runners with utmost safety in the 10km, 5km and the 2km road running race of social contribution and dynamic walking, with a starting and finishing point on Alexander the Great Avenue (at the height of the ‘Umbrellas’ sculpture). All finishers received a commemorative medal and a commemorative certificate of participation by the International Olympic Committee, while the winners received special prizes of the 4th “Olympic Day Run” GREECE.
The races’ start was signaled by the Thessaloniki Mayor and Chairman of the “Olympic Day Run” Greece Organizing Committee, Mr. Konstantinos Zervas, while greetings were addressed by the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Mr. Spyros Kapralos, the Vice President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Mr. Stelios Angeloudis, the President of the International Olympic Academy, Mr. Isidoros Kouvelos, the President of the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS), Ms. Sofia Sakorafa, the President of EAS SEGAS Thessaloniki, Mr. Anastasios Tomboulis, the President of the Hellenic Olympians Association, Ms. Voula Kozompoli, and the General Director of the Olympic Day Run Greece, Vice President of the Hellenic Olympic Academy and Director of the Olympic Museum Dr. Kyriaki Oudatzi.
Olympians Shined at the 4th Olympic Day Run !!
At the certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) “Olympic Day Run” Greece, the Gold Olympic medalists Pyrros Dimas (3 gold and 1 bronze medal), Voula Patoulidou, Athanasia Tsoumeleka, the Silver Olympic medalists Voula Kozompoli (President of the Hellenic Olympians Association), Evangelia Moraitidou (President of the Hellenic Olympic Winners Association), Katerina Thanou, Pigi Devetzi, Niki Bakogianni, Tasoula Kelesidou, Elli Mystakidou and Dimitris Mougios, the Bronze Olympic medalists Maria Georgatou, Ioanna Chatziioannou and Artiom Kiouregkian, the Olympians Fotini Vavatsi, Poly Saregou, Popi Ouzouni, Vasiliki Kasapi, Ioanna Bouziou, the Olympians Maria Polyzou (Marathon Runner), Olga Vasdeki, Despina Theodoridou, Afroditi Skafida and Christos Volikakis as well as distinguished athletes such as Angelos Charisteas (Vice President for Digital Policy at Region of Central Macedonia) Angelos Basinas, Stefanos Tzivopoulos and Irini Mandraveli. were all present.
The 4th Olympic Day Run GREECE was organized by the Hellenic Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Academy, the Municipality of Thessaloniki, the Olympic Museum, the Hellenic Olympians Association, SEGAS and EAS SEGAS Thessaloniki and DKO OLYMPiA with the participation of Olympians, Paralympians, Distinguished Athletes, Sports Clubs and Institutional Bodies from all over the country, with the support of the Hellenic Olympic Academy, the Hellenic Olympic Winners Association, the Greek Paralympians Association, the Region of Central Macedonia and Thessaloniki International Fair-HELEXPO. The event was held under the auspices of the Hellenic National Commission for Unesco, the Ministry of Interior of the Macedonia-Thrace Sector, the General Secretariat of Sports, and the Municipalities of Ampelokipi-Menemeni, Thermi, Kalamaria, Kordelio-Evosmos, Neapoli-Sykies, Pavlos Melas, Pylaia-Chortiatis, Volvi, Delta, Thermaikos, Lagadas, Chalkidona, Oreokastro, Almopia, Aristotelis, Dion-Olympos, Emmanuel Pappas, Iraklia, Kavala, Kassandra, Kilkis, Naoussa, Polygyros, Serres and Skydra.
The Olympic Museum and Olympic Day Run Gold Sponsor, PROTERGIA, the Grand Sponsor, Ethniki Asfalistiki, the Race’s Silver Sponsors, Thessaloniki Transport Authority (OSETH) and Alumil, the Bronze Sponsors, Masoutis and Evlogimeno, the Sponsors, Eurobank and Goulidis, the Supply Sponsors, Athos, Dole and Red Bull, the hospitality sponsor Grand Hotel Palace, the Transportation Sponsors, EcoCar and ASV Electrokinisi, the Equipment Sponsor, Thessaloniki Tourism Organization and the event’s Tourist Support Agency, Greece on the Go, they all served the vision of Olympism and offered their kind assistance for the implementation of the project. Moreover, they contributed to the country’s promotion on the Olympic world map, as well as to the dissemination of the Olympic values to a better future.
The assistance of the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Interior, the Deputy Ministry of Sports, the General Secretariat of Sports, the Region of Central Macedonia, the Thessaloniki Tourism Organization, the Services of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, the Traffic Police of Thessaloniki, the Thessaloniki International Fair-HELEXPO and of course the Organization “The Smile of the Child” was invaluable.
Mr. Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Regional Governor of Central Macedonia, Ms. Voula Patoulidou, Deputy Regional Governor of the Metropolitan Unit of Thessaloniki and Gold Olympic mesalist (Barcelona 1992), Mr. Alexandros Barbounakis, Deputy Mayor of Culture and Sports of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, Ms. Maria Karagianni, Deputy Mayor of Tourism of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, Ms. Voula Kozompoli, President of the Hellenic Olympians Association, Ms. Evi Moraitidou, President of the Hellenic Olympic Winners Association and Mr. Andreas Katsaros, Representative of the Greek Paralympians Association all deserve special thanks.
Hundreds of volunteers offered their assistance, as well as the rescue and volunteer teams of the Hellenic Rescue Team, Mikra Municipality Civil Protection Volunteers, Ellite Rescue Team, PROTEKTA Stavroupolis, Crisis Management Team, Greek Volunteers, Panorama Civil Protection Volunteers, Immediate Rescue / Reaction Team, ESEPA Lagadas, Civil Protection Scouts of Thessaloniki Region, Chalkidona Volunteers, Benelistas, Kings Raiders, Riders Club, Mos Serres, Association of Automotive Engineers of Thessaloniki, Association of Historic Military Vehicles, while the athletes’ encouragement was undertaken by the Skouras Camp Team.
The Olympic Day Run GREECE is the official global institution for the celebration of the International Olympic Day. Established by the International Olympic Committee, the organizing authority of the Olympic Games, aims at spreading the Olympic idea. The worldwide celebration for the establishment of the International Olympic Committee and its decision of organizing the first Modern Olympic Games (ATHENS 1896), sheds the light on Greece, while it raises the country’s position in the Olympic and tourism world map.
http://olympicdayrun.gr/ and olympicmuseum-thessaloniki.org
Like our Facebook page, follow our Instagram and Twitter accounts and subscribe on our YouTube channel staying tuned to the only Olympic running event of Greece !!!
