-The Deputy Ministry of Sports is collecting basic food items at the country's National Sports Centers and, in collaboration with the Hellenic Red Cross, they will be delivered in a targeted manner to Ukraine.
L. Avgenakis: «"We do not remain apathetic! We are on the side of the Ukrainian people, we share, we support and we collect goods that were requested from us by the Ukrainian Red Cross."
The Deputy Ministry of Sports, in collaboration with the Hellenic Red Cross, is proceeding with the collection of basic food items at the country's National Sports Centers (NACs), with the aim of sorting, packaging and distributing them in a targeted manner to the Ukrainian people who have been suffering from the devastation of Russia's invasion for three months.
The ethical codes of Sport and its universal values find their full application in this great project of humanity and solidarity. Sport and volunteerism go hand in hand in an initiative of the Deputy Minister of Culture and Sports, Lefteris Avgenakis, which will be carried out by the EAC with its experience and expertise.
In particular, the following will be collected from all sports facilities in the country, in order to be sent to Ukraine, in a humanitarian mission of the EAC, in which a team from the Deputy Ministry of Sports will participate:
- Evaporated milk
- Milk powder for children
- Canned goods of all types
- Cereals
- Nuts
- Flour
- Pasta
- Legumes
This huge project, which will begin immediately in all the Hellenic Red Cross regions, was discussed at a joint press conference held at the Red Cross Headquarters by the Deputy Minister of Sports Lefteris Avgenakis and the President of the Red Cross, Dr. Antonios Avgerinos.
THE Deputy Minister of Sports Lefteris Avgenakis, after emphasizing that without the expertise of the Red Cross volunteers, this idea could not be implemented, he emphasized, among other things:
«Three months after the start of this horrific war, Greek society is not remaining apathetic, the sports community is being activated again in yet another close collaboration with the Hellenic Red Cross.
We are getting active and starting tomorrow, in all local sports facilities in Greece, to collect basic food items, so that over the next two weeks, all the goods that will be collected will be delivered to the Hellenic Red Cross, sorted, packaged and delivered in an organized manner to the Ukrainian people.
I would like to first thank the President, Mr. Avgerinos, the members and executives of the Hellenic Red Cross throughout Greece, as well as the administrations of our Sports Facilities who have already begun the gathering.
In the coming days, members of the sports family across Greece will send a resounding message: We do not remain apathetic! We are on the side of the Ukrainian people, we share, we support and we collect goods that were specifically requested from us by the Ukrainian Red Cross.
Depending on the developments we will have in the war zone, our goal is in the immediate future, around the end of June, to have organized the humanitarian mission and to accompany, with a team from the Deputy Ministry of Sports, the items to Ukraine, always with the help of the Hellenic Red Cross.
At the same time, dialogue continues with the Ukrainian Olympic Committee regarding missions of Ukrainian athletes to Greece.
The Deputy Ministry of Sports operates under the same code of values as the Hellenic Red Cross, with respect for rules, discipline and organization. We have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation and are fulfilling our mission: to achieve the fullest possible offer, serving the values of the Olympic ideal and sports in general.
From me, a big thank you to all the Greek men and women who do not remain apathetic, who are getting active, who are coming forward and sending a message of solidarity to the Ukrainian people.».
The President of the Hellenic Red Cross, Dr. Antonios Avgerinos underlined:
«It is a special moment of joy and satisfaction - and I would say gratitude - that the Deputy Minister continues to speak so flatteringly about us and that you visit us often, supporting our actions.
I want to emphasize that from the first moment of Mr. Avgenakis assuming his duties, the Hellenic Red Cross has been with and aligned with him, as he himself has positions and beliefs that relate to volunteerism and sports.
The goal and purpose are twofold: supporting a healthy sports spirit and strengthening volunteerism in our country, which we need so much. We have a wide field ahead of us to improve volunteerism.
Today's meeting sends out messages of humanity, volunteerism, altruism, social contribution and solidarity. We will coordinate a great action with Mr. Avgenakis. In cooperation with our 80 regional branches, we will co-organize the humanitarian mission to the civilians of Ukraine. There is a major humanitarian crisis there and approximately 20 million Ukrainians need humanitarian aid.
It is important that with the help of the Deputy Minister, with his own appeal to the local Sports Centers, and with our own partnership, these long-lasting foods will be collected. They will be brought to the central warehouses of the Hellenic Red Cross in Athens, sorted, packaged and classified, according to our know-how, so that by the end of June this aid will leave and be delivered to Ukraine.
I assure you that the Hellenic Red Cross never makes unsolicited shipments, everything we do is in full coordination with the Ukrainian Red Cross and with the headquarters in Geneva. What is sent is exactly what the Ukrainian Red Cross has asked us for, which stores it in its warehouses and distributes it where needed.
I must admit that so far we have been surprised by their tremendous organization. They have a wonderful system and that is the excellence of the Red Cross.
It is a great humanitarian undertaking that you, Mr. Deputy Minister, had the vision to do together. Despite the difficulties that this mission entails, because you should know that in our last mission we were stuck in the same spot for two days because we had information about bombings along the way, I believe that we will achieve the best possible result.».
Also present at the Press Conference were representatives from the sports centers of Attica: the Coordinator General Manager of OAKA Konstantinos Chalioris and the Deputy General Manager Alexandros Kandylis, the Vice President of SEF Athanasios Strigas and the Coordinator General Manager of SEF Panagiotis Koutsoyiannis and the President of the Managing Committee of the National Sports-Training Center of the Olympic Village, Petros Galanis.