The Parliament awarded today in a special event held in the Plenary Session the Olympians and Paralympians who took 1st to 8th place, in the 33rd Olympic and Paralympic Games of 2024 in Paris.
The President of the Body, Kostas Tasoulas, welcomed the Greek athletes “as living and successful examples of rare distinction, ethos and hard effort that not only inspired an entire country this summer, but became the personification of the principles that the Council of Europe and the support the Greek state in order to protect the attractiveness, credibility and usefulness of sports in the eyes of society”.
The awarding of the athletes took place in the context of the Conference organized today and tomorrow by the Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, at the Parliament Building, on the theme “Promoting safety, integrity, equality and inclusion in sport”.
As the President of the Parliament pointed out, “the combination of the award, which is traditionally held by the Hellenic Parliament every four years, with the Conference is an initiative of applied hope that the institutions and values of pure sports are translated here, in the birthplace of the Olympic Games, in faces, in names, in victories and in national recognition. So, as modern Hellenic judges, it is worthwhile to protect the prestige of sport so that it, in turn, protects our societies with its lessons.”
The honored athletes, Olympians and Paralympians, their coaches and companions, who made Greece proud, were awarded the medal of the Hellenic Parliament depicting the Seal of Freedom, a copy of the seal of the Revolution of 1821, symbolizing the ideals that inspired the ceaseless struggle of Greeks.
At the honorary event in the Plenary Session of the Parliament, the Prime Minister Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis was represented by the Deputy Minister of Education, Religion and Sports, Mr. Ioannis Vroutsis, who emphasized that “we want a sport away from shadows, free from pathogens that tarnish its image” . In this direction, Mr. Vroutsis referred to the government’s overall plan to combat violence in sports venues, to eliminate the phenomena of abusive behavior and harassment, to protect against manipulated matches and doping, but also to deal with corruption in sports organizations.
Greetings were also addressed by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mr. Theodoros Roussopoulos, the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mrs. Bjørn Berge, Mrs. Dora Bakoyannis, Head of the Greek Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe , Mr. Spyros Kapralos, President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Mr. Georgios Kapellakis, President of the Hellenic Paralympic Committee, Mr. Andreas Zaglis, FIBA Secretary General, the gold medalist Mrs. Evangelia Plataniotis, as representative of the Olympians and the gold Paralympian and president of the Association of Greek Paralympians, Mr. Grigoris Polychronidis.
On behalf of the parties, greetings were addressed by Mr. Nikos Pappas, president of K.O. of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, Dimitris Mantzos, Parliamentary Representative of K.O. of PASOK-Movement of Change, Thanasis Pafilis from the KKE, Vasilios Viliardos from the Hellenic Solution, Theopistis Perkas from the New Left, Georgia Kefala from Pleussi Eleftherias and Ioannis Kontis from the Spartans.
The Vice Presidents of the Parliament, Mr. Ioannis Plakiotakis and Athanasios Bouras, the General Secretary of the Parliament Mr. Vasilios Bayiokos and the General Secretary of Sports Mr. Georgios Mavrotas.
In the work of the Conference, which will be completed tomorrow, important actors of sports in Greece and abroad will participate who will analyze issues of the prevention of violence and abuse, to deal with doping, fixed matches and illegal bets, as well as to equality and inclusion in sport.
Source: newsbeast.gr
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**Interview with Kostas Tasoulas, President of the Hellenic Parliament**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining me today, Mr. Tasoulas. It’s a pleasure to discuss the recent awarding ceremony for our Olympians and Paralympians. Can you share what it meant for you to honor these athletes in the context of the Parliamentary Conference?
**Kostas Tasoulas:** Thank you for having me. It was truly an honor to celebrate our athletes who have achieved remarkable success at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. This event not only recognizes their hard work and dedication but also serves as a reminder of the ideals of sportsmanship and integrity that we must uphold. By combining this awarding ceremony with the Conference on promoting safer and more inclusive sports, we aim to instill a deeper commitment to these values in our society.
**Editor:** You mentioned the significance of athletes as ’living and successful examples’. How do you believe their achievements inspire the younger generation in Greece?
**Kostas Tasoulas:** Our Olympians and Paralympians embody virtues such as discipline, perseverance, and the spirit of fair competition. Their victories resonate beyond sports; they inspire young people to strive for excellence in all aspects of life. When the younger generation sees these athletes recognized for their dedication and success, it fosters a sense of pride and motivation to pursue their dreams, whether in sports or other fields.
**Editor:** The event highlighted the importance of ensuring integrity in sports. What specific measures is the government planning to address issues such as violence in sports and safeguarding athletes?
**Kostas Tasoulas:** We are taking a multi-faceted approach. Our Deputy Minister of Education, Religion and Sports, Mr. Ioannis Vroutsis, outlined our comprehensive plan to combat violence in sports venues and eliminate practices that tarnish the image of sports. This includes not only tackling abusive behavior but also implementing strict regulations to prevent match manipulation and doping. Our goal is to create an environment where athletes can compete safely and fairly.
**Editor:** The medal awarded to the athletes features the Seal of Freedom, symbolizing Greece’s revolutionary ideals. Why was it important to incorporate this symbolism into the awards?
**Kostas Tasoulas:** The Seal of Freedom represents the historical struggle and values that define our nation. By honoring our athletes with this medal, we connect their achievements to the broader narrative of Greek perseverance and excellence. It serves as a powerful reminder that sports can inspire positive change, not only in our country but also in fostering unity and mutual respect among all nations.
**Editor:** Thank you, Mr. Tasoulas, for sharing your insights and the Parliament’s vision for the future of Greek sports. It’s clear that these athletes and the integrity of sports are of paramount importance to our society.
**Kostas Tasoulas:** Thank you for having me. Together, we can ensure that the spirit of the Olympic Games continues to thrive in Greece, inspiring generations to come.
