Highlighted North Evia’s sports & cultural tourism
Athens, July 6, 2021 – The global
swimming event of the Authentic Marathon Swim was organized with utmost safety
and success for the 2nd consecutive year on July 2-4, 2021, at the Municipality
of Istiea-Edipsos.
Amateur and professional swimmers
from 10 countries, including USA, Russia, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Hungary,
Bulgaria, Malta, Luxembourg, and Greece visited North Evia for the needs of the
event and discovered the region’s cultural and sports wealth. The Authentic
Marathon Swim was honored by the presence of Prime Minister’s representative,
Secretary General of Sports, Mr. George Mavrotas and the Deputy Minister of
Tourism, Ms. Sofia Zacharaki, while the President of the Greek National Tourism
Organization, Mrs. Angela Gerekou expressed her support for the event through
her greeting.
“Skyllias & Hydna” Swimming Route
According to Herodotus (8.8) and
other historians, Skyllias with his daughter Hydna were the first long-distance swimmers of History.
On Friday, July 2nd, 2021, we had
four brave athletes who revived for the first time the achievement of Skyllias
and Hydna. The swimmers who covered 80 stadia or 14,5 km were: the Hungarian
Oceans Seven holder and member of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of
Fame, Attila Manyoki, the open water masters’ world champion, Vicky Kouveli,
the three-time Greek champion and two-time English Channel marathon swimmer,
Sofia Psilolignou and the English Channel marathon swimmer, Giannis Kotsiopoulos.
Spyros Gianniotis swam for the 1st
time after the Rio Olympics
For the first time after 5 years, the
silver Olympic medalist of Rio, world champion and member of the International
Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, Spyros Gianniotis swam, without being ranked
and timed, the Olympic 10km marathon route, dedicating his symbolic attempt to
the entire Greek delegation that will represent Greece at the Olympic Games in
Tokyo. Top names such as the European champion, George Arniakos, as well as the
Hungarian swimmer Attila Manyoki participated with him.
The new generation of Marathon
Swimming is here just before Tokyo
A few days before the Tokyo Olympics,
the Authentic Marathon Swim honored the swimming marathon champion Alkis
Kynigakis and his coach Vangelis Kozompolis for their contribution to the sport
of marathon and their qualification to the 10km open water swimming marathon.
George Arniakos announced his
retirement from swimming
The European champion, who completed
his participation in the Authentic Marathon Swim with two first-place finishes
conquering the top at 10km and 3km respectively, officially announced his
retirement from the championships. The event honored the great swimmer,
recognizing his contribution to the sport throughout all these years.
Furthermore, the Hungarian swimmer Attila Manyoki was honored for his presence
in the event.
Great Swimmers gave a dynamic
presence
The Authentic Marathon Swim gathered
great names of marathon swimming for another year. More specifically, the
American world ice swimming champion Quinn Fitzgerald who has swum in the
Arctic Circle and is also the fastest swimmer in the world in his category, the
Bulgarian swimmer Lachezar Shumkov with participations in the 2017 and 2019
World Aquatics Championships, as well as members of the Greek national swimming
team such as Dimitris Negris, Stellina Aplanti, Ilektra Lebl, Panagiotis
Bolanos and Georgia Pavlopoulou took part in the event.
The event was organized by the
Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos and the entire Local Government with the Region
of Central Greece, the Organization of Cultural Development for Central Greece
(O.P.A.S.T.E.), the Central Union of Municipalities in Greece (KEDE) and the
Regional Union of Municipalities of Central Greece.
In the context of the event’s 2nd
year, the Mayor of Istiea-Edipsos Mr. Kontzias stated: “Our Municipality,
through the Authentic Marathon Swim and its activities, showcased even more
this year the region’s history and cultural heritage and proved that it can
successfully organize this global swimming event. I would like to warmly thank
the entire Greek state, the Ministry of Tourism, the Greek National Tourism
Organization, the General Secretariat of Sports, the International Olympic
Academy, the Hellenic Olympic Committee, the Region of Central Greece, the
Central Union of Municipalities in Greece, the Regional Union of Municipalities
of Central Greece as well as all the sponsors who stood by us in this effort
recognizing the importance and values of this sports event. Our goal for the
event is to welcome every year more and more visitors from all over the world
who will enjoy the best possible hospitality”.
During the races, the Prime
Minister’s representative, Secretary General of Sports, Mr. George Mavrotas
highlighted, among other things: “After a difficult year, not only for sports
but for all sectors and for the whole world, I think that the heart of Greek
sports has begun to beat again. This is what my presence here in the Authentic
Marathon Swim at Artemision symbolizes, an organization with historical roots
and a sports event which showcases the wealth that our country has in such
events that combine history, culture and sports, so that it can become an
important sports tourism pole”.
Moreover, the Deputy Minister of
Tourism, Ms. Sofia Zacharaki, remarked among other things: “I am very happy and
excited for this event that the Ministry of Tourism actively supports from the
first moment. It is the second year, and we are happy, with the great number of
participants from Greece and abroad. This is very indicative of the interest
that sports tourism can generate but also how you can provide a
multidimensional tourism product in a region that has natural beauty, sun, sea,
good food, but also very strong history and archeology that we all need to
know”.
Tough races for strong swimmers
On Saturday, July 3 the action
started with the new 5km open water swimming race. Lachezar Shumkov was the
winner in men and Eleni Economou the winner in women. The 1.5km race followed
with Manos Moiras winning in men while Georgia Pavlopoulou was the winner in
women. The schedule of the day ended with the 3km race with George Arniakos and
Ilektra Lebl being the respective winners in men and women. These races had a
starting and finishing point at Pefki beach. On Sunday, July 4, the event
climaxed with the 10km marathon swimming route. After a very demanding race
that took place under adverse conditions and strong currents, the winners were
George Arniakos in men and Marina Triantafyllidi in women.
Only 10 swimmers finished the
marathon swimming route.
The schedule also included the 500m
children’s race which offered joy and smiles to dozens of children. The warm-up
of the athletes was held by the physical education instructor, Mandy Persaki.
You may find here all the detailed
results:
10km: https://bit.ly/3AwrQKQ
1.5km: https://bit.ly/3qL9Urr
All routes of the Authentic Marathon
Swim were designed by the Federal Technical Director of the Greek National
Swimming Team and race’s technical director, with Olympic & world
distinctions in open water swimming, Mr. Nikos Gemelos.
With absolute safety and
implementation of a strict health protocol
The event was held in accordance with
FINA regulations and the health protocol approved by the Health Scientific
Committee of the General Secretariat of Sports, established by the experienced
team of ActiveMedia Group, in order to protect the health of all athletes and
attendees.
All participants entered the event’s
venue after conducting a mandatory self-test within 24 hours or alternatively,
after they had done a rapid test or a PCR test against Covid-19 within 48 hours
before the start of their race and by showing a certificate of negative result.
Those who provided a vaccination certificate or a certificate that proved that
they have recovered from Covid-19 within the last 2 to 9 months were excluded.
The event ensured that there was a unit of the Hellenic National Public Health
Organization (NPHO) that conducted free rapid tests on those who had not
conducted the necessary test. At the same time, there was a demarcation of a
2,000 sq.m space through the use of railings. Swimmers started in different
waves to avoid interactions while maintaining long distances between them, the
necessary distances were also followed at the registration area, where
participants received their kits. In addition, there was an isolation of
foreign athletes in different hotels, the event created a recording system of
outgoing and incoming people in order to always be aware of the number of
people that were present at the area of the sports facility built, the athletes
received their medals by themselves, and only individual awards were given to
athletes.
Symbolic activities honored the
history of marathon swimming
In the afternoon of Friday, July 2,
the Authentic Marathon Swim, honoring the history of the place, held a symbolic
event at the ancient settlement of Artemision where Mavroelia from Artemision,
which is also known as Olive Mavromandila, can be found. It is a monument of
nature and local history, one of the oldest olive trees in the world, dating
back over 2,500 years. Winners of the routes were symbolically awarded with a
branch of Mavroelia.
Moreover, activities included for the
first time the presence of a Music Convention with the participation of the
Hellenic Navy Music Band, connecting the historic naval battle of Artemision,
which is the first naval conflict in the world, with the present and honoring
the naval feat while recognizing the Battle of Artemision as the primary
starting point of the Greek Navy’s History. On Saturday, July 3, in the
evening, the Hellenic Navy’s Music Department held a music concert in honor of
the Artemision naval battle and the Authentic Marathon Swim.
Environmental protection as priority
With respect to the environment and
aiming at informing and raising people’s awareness in the effort to achieve a
zero environmental footprint, the Authentic Marathon Swim had the nonprofit
organization π3 (pi3) as a Sustainability Partner this year. The event’s
environmental activities began on Friday, July 2, in the morning, with the
cleaning of Pefki beach. During the three days, additional actions followed,
and aimed towards informing and educating the public for the adoption of an environmentally
friendly attitude by everyone.
Throughout the three days, the public
was informed and educated on the adoption of an environmentally friendly
attitude by everyone, while all plastic packaging was collected in designated
recycling bins and was promoted for reuse.
Research on the financial footprint
of sports tourism in Greece
The Authentic Marathon Swim innovated
once again, in collaboration with the leading private educational institution
in the country, Deree – The American College of Greece, investing in research
and collection of important information about the financial footprint of sports
tourism in Greece. During the races, a survey was conducted on participating
athletes and visitors of the region, the results of which will be presented in
the coming months.
NP Insurance and Philosofish were the
event’s Official Sponsors.
Natural Mineral Water Vikos was the
Official Water.
Luanvi was the event’s Official
Clothing Partner.
Avance is the Official Car Rental
Partner.
Target Security was the Security
Partner.
Istiea Techniki - Kataskevastiki,
Schoretsanitis Cheese Factory, Evoiki Techniki, Eratosthenis Techniki, Nivea
Sun, Syconia, Kontos S.A., Almanda and The Norman Farm were the event’s
Partners.
Leandros, Swimmingclub.gr, LA Elite
Fitness, APS TRIAS and Kallithea Open Water Team were the Authentic Marathon
Swim’s Athletic Partners.
Liquid Media was the Premium Media
Partner.
π3 (pi3) was the Sustainability
Partner.
The event was assisted by the
Hellenic Red Cross with Chalkida’s Regional Department, Super Market Andreou,
Melirriton, Apex Ice – Kouvlis Efstathios, Afoi Papaefthymiou, the Audio
Services company Belmezou Christina, Insurance Consultants Kontzia-Sakellariou
and Super Market Proton Kravaritis.
Dynamic support by the Hospitality
Sponsors
The Authentic Marathon Swim
collaborated with more than 35 hotels in the region, with the aim of
revitalizing the sports tourism industry of Northern Evia and strengthening the
Greek tourism product. This year’s event was enormously supported by the
following hospitality sponsors: Maria Louiza Apartments, Altamar Hotel, Villa
Anastasia, Ellaeon Throesma, Kochili Apartments, Pefki Seascape Rooms, Hydna
Studios, Aktaion Hotel, Arethousa Hotel, Galini Hotel Edipsos, Island, Ilios
Studios, Irene Studios, Meliti Studios, Mirtia Hotel, Prigkipessa Studios,
Aenaon Studios, Aidipsos Hotel, Alex Spa Hotel, Anesis, Apolonio, Artemis Rooms
Pefki, Artemision Hotel, Asimina Rooms, Avli, Evia Dream, Galini Hotel Pefki,
Kerasiotis Apartments, Konstantinos Hotel, Lito Hotel, Maria Studios, Melikari
Studios, Oversea Rooms & Villas, Posidonio Studios, Rodon Hotel, Sunset
Pefki, Thalassa Hotel, Vasiliki Studios, Viki Studios.
The Authentic Marathon Swim was held
with the permission of the Greek Ministry of Tourism, under the auspices of the
Greek National Tourism Organization, the International Olympic Academy and the
Hellenic Olympic Committee. ActiveMedia Group was responsible for its sports
production. The race has joined the swimming community of Global Swim Series
(GSS).
The official hashtag
#authenticmarathonswim gathered on social media the exciting moments of
participants from the Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos and the event.
Website:
www.authenticmarathonswim.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/AuthenticMarathonSwim
Instagram Page: www.instagram.com/authenticmarathonswim
Twitter Account: https://twitter.com/themarathonswim
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