On September 9, the Ambassador of Australia to Greece, Alison Duncan, hosted an Aussie barbeque at the Australian Residence in Athens for the Panathinaikos Basketball Club, to farewell them before they travel to Australia for the 7th Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament.
Taking place outside Greece for the first time in its history, the prestigious Pavlos Giannakopoulos tournament will be hosted this year by Australia’s National Basketball League.
From 18-22 September, the tournament will bring together Euroleague powerhouses Panathinaikos BC AKTOR and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, and leading NBL teams Sydney Kings and Adelaide 36ers. Games will be staged at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena and Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena.
Ambassador Duncan treated the players, coaches and management to a taste of authentic Australian hospitality – and some fine Aussie beef. The event was a chance to underline the deep connections between Australia and Greece through vibrant people-to-people links.
“I was delighted to welcome Panathinaikos BC AKTOR to the Australian Residence to bid them farewell and wish them every success in the upcoming Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament,” Ambassador Duncan stated.
“The farewell was a wonderful way to highlight the warm people-to-people links that form the foundation of the enduring friendship between Australia and Greece. Australia’s Greek community is eagerly awaiting this landmark tournament which will celebrate sports, heritage and the unbreakable ties between our two countries.”
The President of Panathinaikos BC AKTOR, Vassilis Parthenopoulos, said: “It is a great honour for Panathinaikos BC AKTOR to bring the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament to Australia for the very first time. This event carries deep meaning for our club and our fans, as it pays tribute to the legacy of Pavlos Giannakopoulos, whose vision and passion shaped the history of Panathinaikos and European basketball.”
“We are excited to share this tradition with our friends in Australia, a country with such a strong Greek community and a growing love for basketball. Competing alongside Clubs like Partizan, the Sydney Kings and the Adelaide 36ers makes this edition of the tournament truly special,” Mr Parthenopoulos added.
“I would like to thank the Ambassador, HE Ms Alison Duncan, and the Australian Embassy for their warm hospitality, as well as our partners who make this journey possible. We look forward to an unforgettable tournament that will strengthen the bonds of friendship between Greece and Australia and inspire basketball fans everywhere.”
The event was attended by Mr Parthenopoulos and players Kendrick Nunn, Jerian Grant, T.J. Shorts, Richaun Holmes, Marius Grigonis, Yiannis Kouzeloglou and Nikos Rogkavopoulos, along with the coaching staff, the sports division administration, and Fragkiskos Alvertis, European Ambassador of Panathinaikos BC AKTOR.
The event was also attended by Greece’s Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Yiannis Kefalogiannis, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs responsible for Greeks Abroad, Yiannis Loverdos, and the President of the Greece-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group, Athanasios Kavvadas MP.
The Australian Embassy in Athens extended its thanks to event sponsors, John Loukadellis, Simon Ftelianos and George Anton.
