Cyclists Ride from London to Athens Promoting Return of Parthenon Marbles to Greece

Cyclists outside the British Museum.

Cyclists from Greece, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, the UK and Italy will set off on Saturday (August 5) from the British Museum to Athens as part of the “London-Athens on 2 Wheels – Bring Them Back” initiative aimed at raising awareness about the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

The participants will cycle 3,500 kms to the Acropolis in Athens making stops at five checkpoints (Mons, Munich, Budapest, Kastoria, and Trikala) in Europe and Greece, where they will be joined by other cyclists.

The ultra-endurance cycling event, supported by the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles (BCRPM) with the support of the Attica Region, is part of the ongoing campaign to reunite the Parthenon Marbles.

London-Athens on 2 Wheels – Bring Them Back.

Cyclists will embark on their journey from the British Museum’s front gates at 5am tomorrow along a virtual path required for the return of the sculptures to the Acropolis Museum at the foot of the World Heritage site in Athens.

“The aim was to establish an annual event bringing together people who love sports, adventures, and cycling, not least the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles, a just cause, supported by many all around the world,” said Vasiliki Voutzali, a cyclist and nurse from Greece, and the initiator of the annual challenge.

This is the second year of the “London-Athens on 2 Wheels – Bring Them Back”. In 2014, Italian professor Salvatore Lo Sicco cycled from London to Athens to rally for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to their birthplace in Greece. His bike journey began on July 1 from the steps of the British Museum and 35 days later he arrived at the Acropolis Museum in Athens. His initiative was also supported by the BCRPM. Last year, five cyclists completed the trip in 14 days.

Photo Source: @Return Parthenon Marbles Protest (Petros Papadopoulos).

This year’s start of the “London-Athens on 2 Wheels – Bring Them Back” challenge from the British Museum will be called by two BCRPM members: Chris Stockdale, who cycled solo for the cause in 2005, and Marlen Godwin.

Earlier this year, the British Museum confirmed that it was in “constructive discussions” with Athens for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece as part of a cultural exchange program.

In March, the Vatican agreed to return three sculpture fragments from the Parthenon putting additional pressure on the British Museum in the long-standing dispute with Greece for the return of the 2,500 year-old Parthenon Marbles which are one of its central exhibits.

The BCRPM was set up in 1983 and is dedicated to the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.