$50,000 offered by The Hellenic Initiative to 11 Greek and Cypriot top level athletes, to help them in their preparation for the next Olympic Games
The Hellenic Initiative in collaboration with the A. G. Leventis and Latsis Foundations, awarded, for a second year, a total of 41 Olympic Preparation Scholarships, helping Greek athletes to prepare effectively for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. During the award ceremony which was held on the 17th of April, the three organizations as well as the participants celebrated our athletes and provided them with resources and support to continue their efforts for the next Olympic Games.
Greece, the motherland of both the ancient and the modern Olympic Games, has a long tradition of successes in a wide range of sports. During the last Olympiad in Rio, Greece ranked 39th in total medals count, surpassing half of all the other nations of the world.
The protagonists of all these successes, the athletes of the Greek Olympic teams, numerous young men and women who distinguished themselves among the best in the world, have been often overlooked. The people who have brought such joy to Greeks across the globe and inspired many younger athletes, most often got that far based on their talent and determination alone, training hard in harsh conditions and in spite of the often dispiriting lack of sports facilities and funding.
Acknowledging the tremendous efforts of our athletes and seeking to maintain the Olympic legacy of our country, the A. G. Leventis Foundation established in 1999 its Olympic Preparations Scholarship Program: a program that has supported talented Greek and Cypriot youth in working towards the Olympic dream. In the 19 years of its operation, the program has granted over 400 scholarships.
Mr. Harry David, Chairman of the A. G. Leventis Foundation’s Olympic Scholarships Committee spoke of the programme’s lasting commitment to the support of excellence,and of the importance of collaborations such as this, to the future of Greek sport. Introducing the evening’s inspirational keynote speaker -Olympic Champion Spyros Gianniotis, who moved all present with his engaging account of the trials and tribulations that lead to his Olympic success- Harry David lauded the example of those who embody the ethos of the Games, and make all of us proud, as Greeks, well beyond our national borders.
Michael Printzos, THI Director of Programming, stated: “THI is proud to collaborate with the Leventis and Latsis foundations in supporting our Olympic athletes. The Hellenic Initiative has always strived to support Greeks who seek to excel in their field. Through their determination, Greek athletes have excelled in the Olympic Games time and time again, exceeding expectations, and proving that power of will is essential to achieve greatness”.
