Minister Kountoura Backs 1st AegeanBall Fest for Syros’ Tourism

Basketball and sports can go a long way towards the promotion of Greece as  a leading holiday destination, Alternate Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura said during the 1st AegeanBall Festival 2016 held earlier this month on the Cycladic island of Syros.

The weeklong athletic event included five days of 3 on 3 games for youngsters with the last three days featuring big names of the sport from Greece and abroad. Tournaments were held across Greece for school teams with the finalists meeting up on Syros for the championship.

Giorgios Printezis. Photo source: eurohoops.net

AegeanBall was held under the auspices of FIBA and the Greek National Tourism Organization with a portion of the takings going to the needs of several of the island’s charity institutions.

Minister Kountoura said the event, an initiative of Syros-born professional basketball player for Olympiacos Piraeus Giorgios Printezis and Syros Mayor George Marangos, was a great way to promote the island as a primary sports tourism destination while sending out a message of athletic spirit, culture, peace and volunteerism.

During her visit to Syros, Minister Kountoura met with members of the local tourism directorate, Cyclades Chamber president Ioannis Roussos and the Cyclades Regional Tourism Office to discuss the further development of tourism on Syros and the Cyclades, through an extended tourism season, the promotion of alternative forms of travel and the upgrade of the tourism product.