Big sports celebrations around Greece.

In the framework of the Sports Academies program, OPAP organizes big sports festivals in ten cities around Greece. The first festival was held on Sunday, February 14 in Heraklion, Crete where 830 children and 1.050 parents and chaperons participated in activities at the Pankritio Stadium.

In accordance with the philosophy and values of the Sports Academies program, all activities during the festivals focus in the most enjoyable of ways on the values that make up the athletic ideal, especially fair play, respect, ethics and teamwork.

The young athletes participate in teamwork and football skills games, games-courses on nutrition issues and an experiential activity during which they practice sports as Paralympic athletes. At the same time, parents and chaperons attend seminars and speeches by the members of the specialized scientific team of the program on psychology, nutrition and first aid issues.

On the occasion of the Sports Academies Festivals, Mr. Petr Matejovsky, Marketing General Director of OPAP SA, stated: “We are very happy that the implementation of the program is met with success and that it is gradually achieving its goals. For the first time in Greece, we are implementing an integrated and long-lasting sports training program, which primarily promotes the making of athletes with values and principles. These people will be the foundation for the development of sports in Greece”.

The Sports Academies program is included in the framework of OPAP’s Corporate Responsibility and is based on UEFA’s guidelines and the principles of Grassroots, the top youth sports model in the world. It is an innovative program that supports 125 amateur sports academies from around Greece in which more than 10,000 children of 7-10 years old participate. With its central moto being “Athletes Today –Better People Tomorrow”, the program’s goal is to attract even more children and promote the educational and entertaining role of sports, contributing to laying solid foundations for the future of sport in Greece.

The academies that participate in the program enjoy the benefits of an integrated educational program that includes:

• Scientific support by specialized pediatricians, child phycologists and nutritionists
• Age-appropriate coaching directions, according to UEFA and FIFA international standards
• High quality sports gear
• Insurance coverage during training and games, as well as one hour before and after
• Participation in football tournaments with an educational and entertaining profile

The cities that will host the next Festivals of OPAP Sports Academies from February till June are: Patras, Argos, Athens-Kallithea, Katerini, Larissa, Ioannina, Xanthi, Athens-Peristeri and Thessaloniki.

Please find more information on the “Sports Academies” program and the festivals by following the link below: http://sportsacademies.opap.gr/en