MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND SPORTS
GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF SPORTS
PRESS OFFICE
Athens, April 15, 2020
PRESS RELEASE
Coordination of actions, upgrading everyday sports for the benefit of athletes and citizens,
numerous "Live Sports" events throughout the country
The 2nd Meeting of all the Administrations of the National Sports Centers of the country, which are supervised by the General Secretariat of Sports, took place today, Holy Wednesday, with the Deputy Minister of Culture and Sports, Lefteris Avgenakis, and more than 100 participants, via video conference.
It is recalled that the first in history and festive was held before the coronavirus crisis, on Sunday, February 23, in the amphitheater of the National Youth Sports Center of Agios Kosmas. Its purpose at that time was the better coordination and prioritization of actions, in critical areas of operation and substantial utilization of sports facilities. So that, in a direct way, everyday issues are solved, there is an even better connection of sports infrastructures with society, but also in the medium-long term to maximize the benefit for athletes and citizens.
The purpose of today's three-hour Synod was the nationwide preparation for the restart of the operation of sports infrastructures and the proposals for the escalation of actions once sports activity is permitted by the special committee of scientists.
The Deputy Minister of Sports congratulated the presidents and members of the administrations, regular and alternate, who, despite offering their services without pay, work professionally and consistently, honoring the trust of the Prime Minister and his own. He noted that they represent administratively and as "satellites" the sports policy in their areas and must constitute a point of reference for local sports actions, leaving a positive imprint on the local community with the activity and management of sports infrastructures.
Afterwards, Mr. Avgenakis referred in detail to the Deputy Ministry's quick reflexes and the series of preventive actions that were taken before Covid-19 even escalated in our country (disinfections of facilities, letter to Municipalities to do the same, provision for games behind closed doors, provision for exemption of those preparing for the Olympic Games from the measures prohibiting unnecessary travel before the IOC even requested it) and asked for the same vigilance and quick reflexes from everyone when the restart of sports activities in the country is allowed.
The Deputy Minister of Sports also spoke about the online campaigns of the "Live Athletically" program of the Deputy Ministry of Sports, which promote the basic principles of sports, volunteerism and solidarity and were rewarded by the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in yesterday's video conference with Olympic Champions and Champions. The blood donation actions across the territory (already held in Ioannina, Agios Kosmas, Heraklion, Chania, Thessaloniki, SEF and will be followed by OAKA, Patras, Larissa and Komotini), as well as the auctions of sports memorabilia of Olympic Champions and Champions, which began with the jersey of Nikos Galis and the gloves of Michalis Zambidis and continue with memorabilia of Tsitsipas, Sakkari, Ratzas, etc. The proceeds from the auctions, as is known, will be deposited into the special account to support the Public Health System in the fight against coronavirus.
Reference was also made to the agreement with the Minister of Development and Social Affairs, Yiannis Vroutsis, regarding the public benefit programs of the OAED, through which 249 employees of various specialties and 350 trainers will be absorbed into the EAK in 147 municipalities.
Mr. Avgenakis then repeated the slogan "to turn the crisis into an opportunity" and the floor was turned to the administrations for suggestions and observations on a package of actions once the fight against the coronavirus is won, both for the further upgrading of the facilities for the benefit of the sports family and for them to "open up" more to local communities:
In summary, the following were decided:
* Generous discount from the Greek Sports and Recreation Authority to amateur clubs for the use of sports facilities in the first months of operation after the coronavirus
* Athlete tours across the territory, within the framework of the "Live Athletics" program, with events at the Sports Complexes, in individual municipalities of each prefecture and in school units with an emphasis on familiarizing society with less popular sports
* Free use of facilities by disabled people
* Teleconference on the restart of sports, volunteerism and solidarity as its core values, the upgrading of sports facilities, the strengthening of local economies and the improvement of the quality of life of citizens
* Digital transformation of all GSA infrastructures
* Hosting of Business, Labor and Industry Championships
* Summer sports camps for young children
* Public week and student week, with free use of the facilities
* Street Games
The Deputy Minister of Sports, summarizing, stated:
* In the recycling program that will be implemented in each facility, with its proceeds funding the "Live Athletics" program
* In "Pelopas", where, in collaboration with KEDE, the registry of every sports infrastructure in our country is created
* In the culture of the new quality of life that is being cultivated (exercise, healthy eating, no smoking and alcohol)
* And in other initiatives of the Deputy Ministry with European and domestic programs under recommendation, which will further improve the daily life of the sports family and society, giving greater impetus to mass amateur sports.
Finally, the administrations of the two sports centers conveyed the great satisfaction of the local sports communities for the inclusion of all their entities in the Support Measures for businesses and individuals and emphasized the fact that for the first time the State is showing such direct concern, while they also praised the effectiveness, in general, of the Government's measures to address the coronavirus.
The Summit was attended by administrations from:
* Athens Olympic Center "Spyros Louis"
* Peace and Friendship Stadium
* National Youth Sports Center of Agios Kosmas
* National Sports Centers of Thessaloniki
* Kaftanzoglio National Stadium of Thessaloniki
* Pampeloponnisi National Sports Center of Patras
* National Sports Center of Heraklion
* Panepirotiko National Sports Center of Ioannina
* National Sports Center of Larissa
* National Sports Center of Chania
* National Sports Center of Corfu
* Panthrakiko National Stadium of Komotini
* Papacharalampio National Stadium of Nafpaktos
* Vasilitsa National Ski Center
* Seli National Ski Center