Posidonia Games 2016: 2,500 Shipping Professionals Attend Greece’s Four-sport Event

Posidonia 2016 Golf Tournament

In what maritime circles refer to as shipping industry’s biennial mini Olympics, last weekend’s Posidonia Games lived up to its reputation as a popular sporting extravaganza.

A total of 2.500 shipping professionals from all over the world showcased their sailing skills, football finesse, golfing gusto and love for recreational running at four different events designed to promote camaraderie, collaboration and team spirit ahead of Posidonia 2016, the world’s most prestigious maritime exhibition, in Greece.

Such has been the popularity of this year’s Posidonia Games that hundreds ended in the waiting list of the different events including the Posidonia Shipsoccer Tournament which was contested by a total of 28 teams on Sunday evening at Panionios Stadium, a Greek Superleague venue.

Posidonia 2016 Shipsoccer Tournament

8th Posidonia Cup

The Posidonia Games kicked off at Faliron Bay when some 53 crews plunged into the wavy Aegean waters for the 8th Posidonia Cup, an unforgettable yacht race described by some competitors as the biggest and most prestigious yachting event held in Greece.

And from the azure waters of the Saronicos Bay to the green fairways of Glyfada Golf Club where 115 players teed off on Sunday morning for the 3rd Posidonia Golf Tournament, an 18-hole Shotgun contested by 29 teams.

For the first time this year, Posidonia Games launched a running event which was an instant hit from the word go as over 1,100 runners participated at the 5kms race which took place in the centre of Piraeus on Saturday morning in what was seen as a symbolic return of Posidonia to its cradle.

Posidonia 2016 Running Event

“The importance of today’s race is very significant for Piraeus because it is the deep desire of every citizen of this port city that Posidonia returns home one day”, Mayor of Piraeus, Ioannis Moralis, said.

“We hope that this desire will become a reality one day”, he added.

Over 1,800 exhibitors from 89 countries will participate at Posidonia 2016 which opens its doors on Monday, June 6, at the Athens Metropolitan Expo.