Sydney’s night sky dazzled with a spectacular display of Greek, Australian and Serbian flags on Monday night, thanks to a choreographed fleet of 600 drones announcing that the prestigious Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament is coming to Australia for the first time.
The light show was a breathtaking tribute to the tournament’s global debut outside Europe, celebrating the strong sporting ties between Australia, Greece and Serbia.
The three flags shimmered across the skyline with the iconic Sydney Opera House as a backdrop, captivating onlookers and sending a powerful message of unity through sport.
The tournament, named in honour of legendary Panathinaikos BC president Pavlos Giannakopoulos, will feature EuroLeague powerhouses Panathinaikos BC AKTOR and KK Partizan Belgrade, alongside NBL giants Sydney Kings and Adelaide 36ers.
“This is an extraordinary moment for the NBL and basketball fans in Australia,” NBL Director, Nikola Milivojevic, said.
“To have two of Europe’s biggest teams competing… is not only a reflection of the NBL’s growing global reputation, but underlines the increasing level of passion and interest Australians have for the game.”
The clash begins on Thursday 18 September at John Cain Arena in Melbourne, followed by a two-day tournament at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on 21 and 22 September.
Panathinaikos President Vassilis Parthenopoulos said the event holds “cultural importance,” as it brings the legacy of the club and the memory of Giannakopoulos to the Greek diaspora in Australia.
BC Partizan President Ostoja Mijailović added: “We look forward to reconnecting with our expatriates and those with Serbian heritage who we hope will come out in strong support.”
Pre-registration for tickets is now open here, with those who sign up early given priority access on Monday, 19 May. General public tickets will go on-sale on Thursday 22 May.
