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First Olympic Agora to be held in Tokyo for 2020 Olympics

The Greek Herald
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First Olympic Agora to be held in Tokyo for 2020 Olympics

Tokyo will host the first-ever Olympic Agora in the Japanese capital’s Nihonbashi district to celebrate this year’s Olympic Games.

The event will be a nod to the Ancient Greek tradition of the agora – a public space which became the focal point of life in a city. It will be held in Tokyo between April 24 and August 16 with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) leading the project.

Organisation will be carried out by the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage while real estate company Mitsui Fudosan has signed-up as official partner.

A range of activities and events have been promised, in a “fun and festive” atmosphere. This will include an opening exhibition dedicated to Olympic art and culture at Mitsui Memorial Museum.

Torches and medals from previous Games will also be on show while Olympians with “hidden talents” will show off their “creative projects”.

Renowned artists and public installations are hoped to attract a “global audience” while the Agora will be decorated with “Olympic Welcome” banners.

Establishing an Agora falls under a recommendation made in the IOC’s Agenda 2020, the organisation’s blueprint for the future of the Olympic Movement.

“It will be a unique destination, offering fresh perspectives on the Olympic values through an exciting variety of artistic, cultural and educational activities and exhibitions before, during and after the Olympic Games taking place in Tokyo this summer,” the IOC said.

“Here, the Olympic Movement’s link between sport and culture will be on bright display, showcasing the worldwide cultural and social impact of the Olympic Games.

“This colourful destination will encourage intercultural dialogue, bringing Japan and the world together in both a physical space and the digital realm through social media.”

Angelita Teo, the director of the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage, added: “With these innovative artistic, cultural and educational programmes and installations, we can spread the Olympic Movement’s vision to build a better world by celebrating how sport brings us together.”

Sourced by: Insidethegames.biz

Greek fashion designer Yannis Tseklenis dies age 82

The Greek Herald
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Greek fashion designer Yannis Tseklenis dies age 82

At the age of 82, Yannis Tseklenis, one of the leading Greek fashion designers, has tragically passed away. The internationally recognised designer made a historic mark in the second half of the 20th century, with his work in making Greek fashion known to the world.

He was born on November 6, 1937, growing up and completing his studies in Athens. His creations from 1965 to 1991 were sold worldwide by leading stores in more than 30 countries.

His work has been praised worldwide by leading fashion designers of the time, such as Bernadine Morris (New York Times), Sally Kirkland (Life Magazine) and Eugenia Sheppard (International Herald Tribune, Los Angeles Times).

He has received many awards for his work, including the Silver Cross of the Phoenix Order, the Gold Medal of Fashion from the Hellenic Fashion Institute, the Daughter of the Cyclades from the Greek Fashion Center, and the Hellenic Academy of Marketing Award.

Ministry of Culture: “Greek fashion has reached every corner of the world”

“Imagination, boldness, vision characterised Yannis Tseklenis’s work,” the Minister of Culture said in a condolence message, briefing the news of the great designer’s death.

“His work transcended the narrow boundaries of fashion, as did the boundaries of Greece, reaching every corner of the world. He is one of the few, and certainly the most well-known, of those who managed to hear the term ‘Greek fashion’ abroad,” continues Mrs Mendoni’s message. 

“With unique creativity and ingenuity, Yannis Tseklenis leveraged the richness of Greek culture with the famous prints, which were the hallmark of his design signature. From ancient vases, to Byzantine mosaics and contemporary Greek artworks, the works of Yannis Tseklenis have been an instrument of international promotion in Greece.”

Greek PM threatens suspension of Greek Super League amid clash between Olympiacos and PAOK

The Greek Herald
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Greek PM threatens suspension of Greek Super League amid clash between Olympiacos and PAOK

Greece’s prime minister is seeking emergency talks with soccer’s world and European governing bodies to reform the country’s professional leagues and has threatened to suspend the competition as well as club participation in European tournaments.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Thursday he would extend “personal invitations” to the heads of FIFA and UEFA for emergency talks in Athens.

The warning came amid a public clash between the owners of two of the country’s most prominent clubs, Olympiakos and PAOK, over ownership rules — a spat that has also touched off a heated political dispute.

League leader PAOK faced relegation proceedings this week after Olympiakos lodged a complaint with sporting authorities maintaining that its chairman has violated ownership rules. The government rushed through a legislative amendment to block relegation. But the club, based in the northern city of Thessaloniki, still faces a points deduction that could cost it the title race.

The spat is the latest crisis to hit Greek professional soccer, which has been dogged for decades by fan violence, allegations of corruption, and high-profile public confrontations between club bosses.

“Football is important, but tax cuts, jobs, good hospitals, and good schools are far more important,” Prime Minister Mitsotakis told parliament. “We will draw up a memorandum with FIFA and UEFA for a restart of Greek football. I call on club owners to make use of this 11th-hour effort or they will be excluded from all international competition and they will be deprived of a valuable source of income for a long time.”

PAOK is owned by Greek-Russian businessman lvan Savvidis, who successfully challenged two decades of dominance by Olympiakos, which is based at the port of Piraeus near Athens, and owned by shipping magnate Vangelis Marinakis.

Both businessmen have stakes in newspapers and television channels, amplifying the confrontation.

ln Thessaloniki, some 8,000 PAOK fans joined a protest against the government, accusing the government of siding with their rivals from the Greek capital.

“Olympiakos’ owners have been trying to undermine the league from the start of the season because they want to win the championship on paper,” 23-year-old PAOK fan and protester Nikos Kyriakidis told the AP. “We will take them to court and win.”

Sourced by: AP News

Greece ratifies new military deal with United States to expand cooperation

The Greek Herald
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Greece ratifies new military deal with United States to expand cooperation

Greek lawmakers ratified an agreement with the United States on Thursday to significantly expand military cooperation as Greece faces escalating tensions with neighbouring Turkey.

Members of parliament voted 175-33 to ratify the Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement signed in October by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a visit to Athens.

The deal provides for increased joint U.S.-Greece and NATO activities at Greek military bases and facilities in Larissa, Stefanovikio, and Alexandroupolis, in central and northern Greece, as well as infrastructure and other improvements at the Souda Bay U.S. naval base on the island of Crete.

The U.S. Air Force is already operating MQ-9 Reaper drones out of Larissa airbase.

“This is for the mutual benefit of our defense and our economies,” conservative lawmaker Ioannis Lambropoulos said in parliament ahead of the vote. “At a time when we are receiving threats to our sovereignty, we are seeking the support of our allies.”

Supporters of the Greek Communist Party protest in central Athens against the Greek -US expanded defense agreement on Thursday, Jan. 30 , 2020. Greece’s parliament is set to ratify an agreement with the United States for a major expansion of military cooperation as it faces an escalation of tensions with neighboring Turkey.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Greece is locked in a dispute with NATO ally Turkey over maritime boundaries and oil-and-gas drilling rights in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as over war-torn Libya.

Emerging from a protracted financial crisis, Greece is planning multiple upgrades to its armed forces, concentrating on its air force and naval capabilities, largely with U.S. and French defense firms.

The government has expressed interest in purchasing MQ-9 Guardian drones and well as joining the F-35 fighter program at a later date. The plans were discussed at a White House visit earlier this month by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Greece’s left-wing main opposition party said it favoured expanded defense cooperation with the United States but its lawmakers didn’t vote in favour of ratifying the deal, arguing that Athens should first seek a more comprehensive commitment of support from the United States against Turkey’s actions.

The Greek Communist Party organised protest rallies in the capital and cities across the country to oppose the deal, arguing that Greece would be “dragged into dangerous overseas adventures.” The protests ended peacefully.

Sourced by: AP News

South Australia Greek Loukoumades shop destroyed by fire in suspected arson attack

The Greek Herald
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South Australia Greek Loukoumades shop destroyed by fire in suspected arson attack

A loukoumades shop near Henley Square, South Australia, went up in flames this morning, destroying the interior of the store and causing an estimated $300,000 in damage.

About 42 firefighters battled the blaze, also impacting the neighbouring gelato store Bottega, which suffered minor damage. They managed to contain the blaze in about 15 minutes and extinguish it in a further 10 minutes, stopping it from spreading to other nearby shops.

The police are investigating how the incident occurred, however, they currently are investigating it as a deliberate act of arson.

Photo: Adelaide Now

Neighbour Milad Nahravani woke up at 2am to discover the shop on fire.

“It was breaking the glass … it was full blasts going through, blowing up some of the fuse boxes. It was pretty horrific,” he said.

Mr Nahravani said it was “worrying” that someone had deliberately set the shop on fire.

“It’s putting people’s lives in danger and there’s families and kids living around here as well,” he said. “It’s a communal area where people come and gather. It’s (not) acceptable and I hope (police) catch them.”

Mina Sadeghi, who captured footage of the fire as it took hold, agreed. “It’s horrible because we are living here (nearby),” she said. “I cannot believe it that something happened like this.”

The building’s owner John, who declined to give his last name, described the incident as a “tragedy” for the owners of both the doughnut and ice-cream shops.

“It’s a terrible shame,” he said.

John said his main focus was to get the ice-cream shop up and running as soon as possible, assuring people that the building was insured.

European Union joins Huawei 5G network development despite US and Australia rejection

The Greek Herald
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European Union joins Huawei 5G network development despite US and Australia rejection

Against the recommendations established by the United States, the European Union has opened its doors to Chinese Huawei for the development of the 5G network under strict conditions. This EU action comes after a similar decision was made by London, both of which could potentially upset the US technology department.

It is recalled that Washington has pressured its allies to exclude Huawei, in which they suspect espionage in favour of Beijing. Australia and Japan have already complied with American “exhortations”. However, the EU chose to diversify, despite being threatened by the US with a trade war.

Huawei has welcomed the European Union’s decision, welcoming an “objective and fact-based” approach to 5G security.

Despite being approved by the European Union, it is unknown if Greece will attempt to establish the 5G network under Huawei.

Applications for Greece’s “Student Olympiad” open to Greek students around the world

The Greek Herald
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Applications for Greece’s “Student Olympiad” open to Greek students around the world

Mathitiada is an educational event which assembles Junior High School students from all prefectures of Greece and abroad in a common place every two years in May. It has been running every 2 years since 2002.

This year Mathitiada will be held from May 15-19, 2020.

It is a simulation of the Olympic Games for students who do not have to be athletes. For five days they take part in all the Olympic and Paralympic sports as well as in several cultural, environmental and scientific activities.

Each school has a tourist kiosk to display its country, and included guided tours of the archaeological sites in the area. The students reside in the “Student Village”, which is similar to the Olympic village.

The main purpose of Mathitiada is to activate students so that they struggle and this way they are turned from passive recipients into protagonists. Via sports and culture and through personal experience Mathitiada aims at helping children overcome their fear of whatever is new and accept the different.

The program includes the following:

Opening –Closing Ceremonies

The ceremonies begin and end according to the Olympic Games model.

Torch Relay

The torch relay of Mathitiada begins in Proti, Serres, and travels throughout Greece carrying its message. On foot, by fishing boats, rowing boats, bicycles and whatever means of transport available, the torch of Mathitiada has travelled from Alexandroupoli to Igoumenitsa and from Florina to Crete.

Corners of Greece

The delegations have Tourist Stands where the schools present the beauties of their land.

Democracy in practice

Through this activity the students express freely their opinion on issues of their choice.

Culture

38 activities concerning the whole of arts take place in the ‘Cultural Village’. Students participate in cultural workshops, exhibitions and performances.

Science

Activities promoting the value of science take place with students participating in interactive games.

Sports

Students participate in all 35 Olympic Sports (142 finals)

Paralympic Park

16 paralympic sports take place with demonstrations from paralympic champions and with students and visitors’ participation. The purpose of all these is the acceptance of and their familiarization with the different. The activities take place in the especially formed ‘Paralympic Park’, where the students get to know the paralympic sports and ‘play’ in the especially designed educational programs.

Environmental Activities

7 environmental activities take place. Top-ranking activity is the ‘Olive tree Park’, during which the students take care of the olive tree representing their region.

Medal Ceremonies

Nearly 1,000 medals are awarded to the sports winners in every Mathitiada, rewarding the students who tried and achieved to put into action the motto for effort and participation ‘free from the fear of failure and the pressure of win’. All participants are given Certificates of Participation.

For more information on how to apply, contact ‘Mathitiada’.

Terms of participation:

  1. High schools from all over Greece have the right to participate.
  2. Greek schools abroad, Greek departments, as well as Greek associations abroad, attended by Greek students between the ages of 12 to 15, are eligible to participate.
  3. Applications for participation must be sent to the Organising Committee by fax or e-mail by 07 February 2020.
  4. There will be a participation cost for each participant will cover all the hosting costs (accommodation, meals, in-house transfers) needed for the matches.
  5. Students are required to participate in at least one event, which is to promote participation. The maximum number of competitions a student can take is four (4).

TV host Kathie Lee Gifford encourages people to study Greek to understand Bible more clearly

The Greek Herald
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TV host Kathie Lee Gifford encourages people to study Greek to understand Bible more clearly

Emmy Award-winning TV host Kathie Lee Gifford attended the 28th annual Movieguide Awards on Friday where she shared her message of “truth” for Christians who wish to read the Bible.

Walking the red carpet of the popular awards show, Gifford spoke about her book, The Rock, The Road, and The Rabbi and the importance of Christians understanding God’s exact words.

“We have not been taught the truth. And we wonder why we have no power in our lives. We’re quoting scripture that isn’t true,” she passionately declared. 

“If we’re not quoting what it actually says in Greek, actually says in Hebrew, then we’re not speaking the word and the word is everything,” she stressed.

In her book, Gifford details what she discovered about the Bible after learning what it says by studying the original Greek and Hebrew translations. The American TV Host says that this experience, combined with having the opportunity to tour biblical sites in Israel, has been “life-changing.”

Greek government condemns vandalism by PAOK fans of Thessaloniki MP’s office

The Greek Herald
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Greek government condemns vandalism by PAOK fans of Thessaloniki MP’s office

Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas condemned the attack at the office of a New Democracy lawmaker by PAOK fans in the northern port city of Thessaloniki on Wednesday evening.

“We understand the love the friends PAOK have for their team, but we consider any violence unacceptable,” he said. “Violence has no room in democracy.”

A group of people believed to be supporters of Thessaloniki’s PAOK club sprayed slogans on the walls of the office of Stavros Kalafatis, the general secretary of ND’s parliamentary group. They also threw flyers with slogans such as, “Hands off PAOK.”

A group of PAOK fans also shouted slogans outside the office of ND lawmaker Elena Rapti in central Thessaloniki.

The incident came after Parliament on Wednesday approved a controversial legal amendment that will prevent clubs PAOK and Xanthi from being relegated due to alleged infringement of ownership rules.

The amendment, which was passed by 156 votes to 90, changed the penalty for such infringements from relegation to a deduction of 5-10 points. 

Sourced by: Ekatherimi

France to send warships to support Greece in energy reserve standoff with Turkey

The Greek Herald
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France to send warships to support Greece in energy reserve standoff with Turkey

Greece’s prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has welcomed a decision by France to dispatch war frigates to the eastern Mediterranean as a standoff with Turkey over regional energy reserves intensifies.

With tensions between Athens and Ankara causing growing international alarm, Mitsotakis described the vessels as “guarantors of peace.”

“The only way to end differences in the eastern Mediterranean is through international justice,” he told reporters after holding talks in Paris with the French president, Emmanuel Macron. “Greece and France are pursuing a new framework of strategic defence.”

Mitsotakis was in the French capital on a visit aimed at rallying EU support at a time when hostile relations with Turkey have eclipsed all other issues on the agenda of his near seven-month-old government.

Macron pledged France would step up its strategic bond with Greece, accusing Turkey of not only exacerbating regional tensions but failing to stick to its promised course of action in war-torn Libya.

“I want to express my concerns with regard to the behaviour of Turkey at the moment … we have seen during these last days Turkish warships accompanied by Syrian mercenaries arrive on Libyan soil. This is an explicit and serious infringement of what was agreed [at last week’s peace conference] in Berlin. It’s a broken promise.”

The Gallic-Greek alliance cements what officials in Athens are calling a renewed diplomatic push to counter Turkish belligerence in the Mediterranean.

Sourced by: The Guardian

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