Adelaide’s strong ties with Greece have reached a new milestone, with the official signing of a Sister City agreement between Adelaide and Athens on the eve of the C40 World Mayors Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Adelaide’s Lord Mayor Dr Jane Lomax-Smith and Athens Mayor Dr Haris Doukas, marking a landmark partnership that will strengthen cooperation across culture, tourism, innovation, commerce, and environmental sustainability.
Federal MP for Adelaide Steve Georganas – a long-time advocate for the Sister City relationship -welcomed the announcement, saying he had been encouraging such a meeting for some time.
“I’m very pleased that both Mayors have met. I have been trying to bring them together for a while now and the opportunity arose in Brazil,” Mr Georganas told The Greek Herald.
“We are looking forward to the Sister City between Athens and Adelaide being completed and come to fruition, benefiting both cities through the many connections we have that intertwine us – whether it be people-to-people contacts, cultural ties or just both cities being progressive cities with a commitment to the environment.
“I am sure that this will bring our two cities much closer, benefiting us both.”
Mr Georganas’ comments follow a groundswell of local support for the initiative, championed within the Adelaide City Council by Councillors such as Mary Couros, who described the partnership as “a celebration of our multicultural identity and the strong global connections we continue to build.”
Dr Alexandra Theodoropoulou, Consul General of Greece in Adelaide, also praised the agreement, calling it “promising” and “a true Sister City relationship” that will “make both cities better.”
The MoU, approved by Council earlier this year, represents more than symbolic diplomacy – it’s a practical framework for collaboration between two cities with shared values and deep historical and cultural bonds.
As Adelaide and Athens formalise this next chapter of cooperation, the partnership stands as a testament to the enduring strength of Hellenic ties in South Australia and the forward-looking vision of both city leaders.
