‘Olympic Day Run’ Greece 2021 Event Puts Thessaloniki in the Spotlight

Olympic Day Run Greece

The “Olympic Day Run” Greece 2021 event, which took place in late September, put Thessaloniki in the spotlight as a city ideal for hosting major sports events.

In its fourth year, the only Olympic road running race in Greece was held under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee to celebrate the International Olympic Day, spreading a message of global solidarity, unity and hope.

The entire Olympic family was at the event’s starting line on September 26: Olympians, Paralympians, distinguished athletes and coaches, sports clubs and associations from all over the country, as well as active citizens, all gathered for the supreme Olympic road running event of the country.

Bearing the hallmark of the Olympic rings, the 4th “Olympic Day Run” Greece was held with a health & safety protocol approved by the Health Committee of the General Secretariat of Sports and the responsible health bodies. In a complete covid-safe Olympic event, people of all ages ran honoring the Olympic spirit and ‘fair play’.

The “Olympic Day Run” Greece this year joined its forces with “The Smile of the Child” to offer more smiles to children in need. With every registration in the social contribution packages of the 10, 5 or 2 km races, participants offered 3 euros to the organization’s continuous effort so that all children can have everything they deserve and are entitled to.

There was a mass participation of runners in the 10km, 5km and the 2km road running race of social contribution and dynamic walking, with a starting and finishing point on Alexander the Great Avenue (at the height of the ‘Umbrellas’ sculpture). All who crossed the finish line of the 4th “Olympic Day Run” Greece received a commemorative medal and a certificate of participation by the International Olympic Committee, while the winners received special prizes.

Olympic Day Run Greece

The races’ start was signaled by Thessaloniki Mayor and chairman of the “Olympic Day Run” Greece Organizing Committee, Konstantinos Zervas and greetings were addressed by the Hellenic Olympic Committee President Spyros Kapralos; Hellenic Olympic Committee Vice President Stelios Angeloudis; International Olympic Academy President Isidoros Kouvelos; Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS) President Sofia Sakorafa; EAS SEGAS Thessaloniki President Anastasios Tomboulis; Hellenic Olympians Association President Voula Kozompoli; and Olympic Day Run Greece General Director, Hellenic Olympic Academy Vice President and Olympic Museum Director Dr. Kyriaki Oudatzi.

Olympians shined at 4th “Olympic Day Run”

Certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), the “Olympic Day Run” welcomed the participation of the Gold Olympic medalists Pyrros Dimas (3 gold and 1 bronze medal), Voula Patoulidou, Athanasia Tsoumeleka; the Silver Olympic medalists Voula Kozompoli, Evangelia Moraitidou, Katerina Thanou, Pigi Devetzi, Niki Bakogianni, Tasoula Kelesidou, Elli Mystakidou and Dimitris Mougios; the Bronze Olympic medalists Maria Georgatou, Ioanna Chatziioannou and Artiom Kiouregkian; and the Olympians Fotini Vavatsi, Poly Saregou, Popi Ouzouni, Vasiliki Kasapi, Ioanna Bouziou, Maria Polyzou, Olga Vasdeki, Despina Theodoridou, Afroditi Skafida and Christos Volikakis. Distinguished athletes Angelos Charisteas, Angelos Basinas, Stefanos Tzivopoulos and Irini Mandraveli, also took part in the race.

Olympic Day Run Greece

The 4^th “Olympic Day Run” Greece was organized by the Hellenic Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Academy, the Municipality of Thessaloniki, the Olympic Museum, the Hellenic Olympians Association, SEGAS and EAS SEGAS Thessaloniki and DKO OLYMPiA; and supported by the Hellenic Olympic Academy, the Hellenic Olympic Winners Association, the Greek Paralympians Association, the Region of Central Macedonia and Thessaloniki International Fair-HELEXPO.

The event was held under the auspices of the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO, the Ministry of Interior of the Macedonia-Thrace Sector, the General Secretariat of Sports, and the municipalities of Ampelokipi-Menemeni, Thermi, Kalamaria, Kordelio-Evosmos, Neapoli-Sykies, Pavlos Melas, Pylaia-Chortiatis, Volvi, Delta, Thermaikos, Lagadas, Chalkidona, Oreokastro, Almopia, Aristotelis, Dion-Olympos, Emmanuel Pappas, Iraklia, Kavala, Kassandra, Kilkis, Naoussa, Polygyros, Serres and Skydra.

Olympic Day Run Greece

Sponsors of the Olympic Museum and Olympic Day Run event included PROTERGIA (Gold); Ethniki Asfalistiki (Grand); Thessaloniki Transport Authority-OSETH and Alumil (Silver); Masoutis, Evlogimeno and Goulidis (Bronze); Athos, Dole and Red Bull (Supply); Grand Hotel Palace (hospitality); EcoCar (transportation); Thessaloniki Tourism Organization (equipment); and Greece on the Go (tourist support agency).

GTP Headlines was a communication sponsor for the 4th Olympic Day Run event.

The “Olympic Day Run” Greece is the official global institution for the celebration of the International Olympic Day. Established by the International Olympic Committee, the organizing authority of the Olympic Games, aims at spreading the Olympic idea. The worldwide celebration for the establishment of the International Olympic Committee and its decision of organizing the first Modern Olympic Games (ATHENS 1896), sheds the light on Greece, while it raises the country’s position in the Olympic and tourism world map.

More information on the event is available at http://olympicdayrun.gr/ and http://olympicmuseum-thessaloniki.org.