New Activities and a Special Guest of Honor at 2015 ‘Navarino Challenge’

Swimming & Climbing the highlights of this year’s event!

The multiple-award winning event “Navarino Challenge” has added new sports activities to its program for people of all ages and is gearing up to welcome all during September 11-13 in Messinia and Costa Navarino in the Peloponnese in Greece.

Swimming

This year’s new challenges include swimming, where sea lovers of all ages will have the opportunity to swim — without time limits — in the beautiful Navarino Bay in the picturesque port of Pylos.

Spyros Gianniotis. Photo credit: Elias Lefas

On Saturday, September 12, “Navarino Challenge” participants will swim in the 1 mile swimming route (1.6km), specially designed by the federal coach of swimming Nikos Gemelos, at Gialova beach. Respectively, younger participants will swim the half-mile distance route (0.8km). Olympic Champion and twice World Champion swimmer, Spyros Gianniotis, is the ambassador of the swim events.

From the sea challenge, to the mountain challenge!

“Navarino Challenge” will also host climbing activities for the first time.
Climbing courses for those staying at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino will be offered by certified climbing instructor George Malamas.

Indoor climbing, Navarino Rocks. Photo credit: Costa Navarino

The first activity will kick off on Thursday, September 10, at the historical small island of Sfaktiria where the mapping of the 2016 climbing routes will take place. Sfaktiria islet serves as a breakwater for the port of Pylos.
On Friday (11/09), Saturday (12/09) and Sunday (13/09), the climbing action will transfer to Navarino Rocks, the indoor climbing wall of Costa Navarino. The climbing wall (100 m2) will offer a wide range of climbing routes for children and adults, for both beginners and the more advanced. The professional team, the quality of facilities and the fun atmosphere will provide a safe, welcoming and encouraging environment for climbers of all levels.

Running routes

Navarino Challenge 5km route.

This year’s running routes will be held on Sunday, September 13, and include a Half Marathon (21.1km), 10km and 5km routes (for running and dynamic walking) and 1km route for children. All routes will have the same start and end point (at Navarino Dunes, Costa Navarino) with runners following the coastal road towards Pylos.

The “Navarino Challenge” running routes, designed by the XTERRA Greece director, Konstantinos Koumargialis, can be found here.

Also, this year’s family challenge will include a rich program full of activities for parents and children such as Running, Swimming, Climbing, Tae Kwon Do, Pilates, Bike and Martial Arts.

Guest of honor: World Champion Hurdler Periklis Iakovakis

Periklis Iakovakis

This year, during the event’s workshop, “Navarino Challenge” will honor the leading Greek Olympic and World Champion in the 400 meters hurdles, Periklis Iakovakis for his overall contribution to sports and his ethics.

Iakovakis, who is considered an exemplary athlete, is the Greek national record holder, having won the bronze medal at the World Athletics Championship (Paris, 2003), the gold medal at the European Athletics Championship (Gothenburg, 2006), the eighth place in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, a gold and a bronze medal in the Mediterranean Games (Tunis, 2001 & Mersin, 2013 in 4x400m.) and nine national championships.

He was named top athlete in the world, in 2006, in his sport, by one of the leading athletics magazines, U.S. “Track and Field News”. He is the only Greek athlete who has held this honor to date.

Useful information

Registration for the “Navarino Challenge” event can be made through the official website. Another option is to register through Viva.gr that offers those interested in enrolling from wherever they are, either online or via 150 locations throughout Greece (Viva Points – The Mall Athens, Public Shops, Papasotiriou, Ianos, Seven Spots, Reload Stores, Media Markt).

The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino

Special accommodation packages for those who wish to follow the “Navarino Challenge” program while residing at the luxurious The Westin Resort Costa Navarino are also available. For more information, contact the official travel agent of the event, The Travel Company Experts (tel: +30 215 5608282) or enter the following link.

In its third year, the event is supported by Costa Navarino, The Westin Resort Costa Navarino and the Municipalities of Pylos-Nestor and Trifilia.

GTP is a Strategic Communication Partner of the “Navarino Challenge” event.