Special Olympics Hellas celebrates 20th anniversary
Special Olympics Hellas is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Greek President Karolos Papoulias will attend the ceremony on Monday at 6.30 p.m. at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Neo Faliron. He will address a special greeting to the 2,007 athletes, wishing them the strength they show in their contests in the rest of their lives. In his message, Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis will say: «To compete means above all to compete with ourselves.» Also in attendance will be cabinet ministers, parliamentary deputies and sponsors of the event. The protagonists are the 2,007 athletes from every corner of Greece and Cyprus who have come to compete in events taking place in Marathon, Rafina, Nea Makri, Athens and Piraeus. Beside them are their parents, coaches and the Special Olympics volunteers. As Special Olympics Hellas President Yianna Despotopoulou said at the press conference at the Grande Bretagne Hotel on Wednesday, «this anniversary and the events bring us face-to-face with heroes. The real heroes of life are the 2,007 athletes of the Panhellenic Special Olympics.» The games are being held with the support of the 5,000 Greek individuals and companies that responded to the telethon the organization held by ERT state television on February 14, and the Greek Parliament, and the ministries of Defense, Sport and Health and Social Security.
