Acropolis Rally will Promote Greece All Over the World, Says Minister

Photo source: @EKO Acropolis Rally

“The EKO Acropolis Rally is a significant promotional opportunity for Greece as it will be seen by over 500 million TV viewers from all over the world,” Citizen’s Protection Minster Takis Theodorikakos said on Monday.

The major sports event will kick off on Thursday, September 9, at 5.30pm from the Acropolis in Athens. The cars of the EKO Acropolis Rally 2021 will for the first time move towards Syntagma square to conduct a special 0.98km route around the city center, that will be shown live by Greece’s public broadcaster ERT and Cosmote TV.

Dozens of cars will cross Vasilissis Amalias Avenue to pass in front of the Hellenic Parliament, before turning left to reach Syntagma Square to conclude on Vasileos Georgiou Avenue.

“A major world-class motor sports event – the Acropolis Rally – will take place in Greece after eight years [of absence]. It is a significant promotional opportunity that will enhance the country’s radiance and prestige,” Theodorikakos added.

Acropolis Rally Greece last appeared in the WRC in 2013. Photo source: WRC

Special traffic measures

The minister also said that Athens’ citizens and visitors should get informed and comply with the special traffic measures that will be applied in the city center during the next three days.

According to an announcement by the Hellenic Traffic Police, parts of Amalias Avenue will remain closed to traffic on Tuesday and Wednesday starting at 10.30pm until 7pm the next day.

In addition, traffic will be banned on Othonos street starting from Wednesday at 11pm until 6am the next day.

Thursday, September 9

Syntagma Square, central Athens.

Traffic will also be prohibited on major streets around the city center on Thursday, starting at 11am.

Parking and stopping of vehicles will not be allowed from 6am.

The measure includes all streets around Syntagma square as well as the following avenues and streets: Vasilissis Sofias, Amalias, Stadiou, Filellinon and Sygrou, among others.

Meanwhile, some 50 race cars will park at Syntagma square on Thursday evening and remain until Friday morning offering the chance to motorsport fans have an up-close look.

They will ;depart for Agioi Theodoroi and Loutraki, for the first part of the race, on Friday morning.

Also known as the Rally of Gods, the Acropolis Rally will pass through three Greek regions before wrapping up on September 12.