Australian Parliamentarian and Federal Member for Adelaide, Steve Georganas MP, recently met with the Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, at the Athens Municipal Mayoral office in Greece on Saturday, July 19 to discuss the Sister City concept between Adelaide and Athens.
Mr Georganas conveyed best wishes from the Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Dr Jane Lomax-Smith AM and the members of the Adelaide City Council, and briefed the Mayor of Athens on the positive enthusiasm for the sister city concept by the Lord Mayor and the people of the City of Adelaide.
The discussion centred around the next steps to bringing the sister city concept closer and that both Councils have a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the next stage.
“There are enormous benefits to both Athens and Adelaide in strengthening the bond between our two cities, such as the people-to-people ties, business opportunities, educational opportunities, tourism and cultural ties,” Mr Georganas said.
The 31st annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) is scheduled for November 2026. While a final decision is pending for the host city, Adelaide is the preferred location, contingent on the bid being successful.
Hosting COP31 would generate international interest for both Adelaide and Athens with the Mayor of Athens indicating possibly attending if the bid is successful, given both cities have a strong focus on environmental and renewable sustainability policies.
“The late Premier of South Australia, Don Dunstan, famously coined the phrase that Adelaide was the “Athens of the South”. It is fitting that our two cities, Adelaide and Athens, who have been intertwined for many years now, formalise this great relationship,” Mr Georganas concluded.
