Athens, July 29, 2022 - Santorini’s
tourism will boost again with Santorini Experience 2022, as amateur and
professional swimmers and runners, are expected to visit once again one of the
world’s top tourist destinations through sports tourism. Santorini Experience
will be held on September 23-25 for its 6 th year and will include unique
running and swimming routes with a backdrop of Santorini’s enchanting
landscape.
On Wednesday, July 27, this year’s
event official presentation took place in the Acropolis Museum, in the presence
of the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ms. Sofia Zacharaki, the President of the
Greek National Tourism Organization, Ms. Angela Gerekou, the Mayor of Thira,
Mr. Antonis Sigalas, the Deputy Mayor of Thira and Head of Culture Ms. Sofia Kitsou
and the Chief Executive Officer of ActiveMedia Group, Mr. Akis Tsolis, while
the Deputy Minister of Culture & Sports, Mr. Lefteris Avgenakis sent
his greeting through a video message. The press conference was held in the
presence of the Technical Director of the event’s swimming race, Nikos Gemelos,
the World Open Water Swimming Champion, Representative of the athletes of the
Hellenic Swimming Federation and member of its Board of Directors, Kelly
Araouzou, the President of the Hellenic Association of Sports Press, Mr. Theodorakopoulos
as well as many journalists.
Thira Municipality is not limited to
simply hosting a major tourism event on the island of Santorini, as it intends
to also highlight the cultural wealth of a globally leading tourism destination,
organizing Santorini Experience, after two years of pandemic.
In the context of the press
conference, the Mayor of Thira, Mr. Antonis Sigalas, stated among other things:
“Santorini holds an enviable position on the world stage, and is one of the leading
and most popular holiday destinations. Our goal is to further upgrade our
tourist product and enrich it with new alternative forms of tourism that offer
unprecedented experiences. The symbolisms of the names of the two sports activities
that we have announced for Santorini Experience is obvious. We want to connect
the authentic experience with the history and the elements of our cultural
reserve as well as to honor the founders of the “Loula & Evangelos
Nomikos” Foundation.
Accordingly, the Deputy Minister of
Tourism, Ms. Sofia Zacharaki, said: “The Sporting event of Santorini
Experience, on the one hand, enriches the tourism product beyond the two elements
of sun and sea, while it has all the elements that will make this experience
special so that the visitor will return to this wonderful island and our
country. At the same time, it has the details of the repetition of the visit
for anyone who participates in this event. In Santorini, you have no shortage
of reasons to return to the island, but you have many reasons to visit for the first
time. We will be there both with the auspices and with the physical presence,
but mainly with the message that we will convey to the whole world, that this
event is happening in Greece, adding to our overall effort, for quality,
sustainability, balance”.
The Deputy Minister of Culture
& Sports, Mr. Lefteris Avgenakis, addressed his greeting with a video
saying, among other things: “Warm congratulations are deserved to the Municipality
of Thira, to ActiveMedia Group as well as to all those who have worked for the implementation
of this year’s event. What makes this event special is the perfect combination of
culture, history, and the natural wealth of Santorini, with the sports tourism
of the region as the main driving force”.
The President of the Greek National
Tourism Organization, Ms. Angela Gerekou highlighted among other things: “In
recent years, Santorini has proven that it can combine the entire kaleidoscope
of tourism that we work on and promote for our country. The exceptional event,
Santorini Experience, that combines sports, tourism, culture will be able to
give a very dynamic boost to the tourism of Santorini”.
In addition, the Deputy Mayor of
Thira and Head of Culture, Ms. Sofia Kitsou stated in the context of the Press
Conference: “The Daedalic Kore of Thira, is a unique archaeological finding of
supernatural size made of marble, dating back to 640 BC, which was found
preserved in excellent condition at the site of Sellada in Ancient Thira. This
finding of 2.30 meters height and about 750 kilograms weight, is going to be
exhibited to the world for the first time, in the outdoor area of the
Archaeological Museum of Thira. I am especially glad that ActiveMedia Group
shared this vision with us, as we jointly decided to give the name of the
Daedalic Kore to the Half Marathon. This year you will have one more reason to
participate in Santorini Experience to see the Daedalic Kore up close”.
Finally, the Chief Executive Officer
of ActiveMedia Group, Mr. Akis Tsolis said, among other things: “In combination
with all the new trends in tourism, the tourism plan based on the destinations
together with the institutional framework formed by the Ministry of Tourism,
aims at creating Greek branded tourist products in the field of sports tourism.
The high-quality and diversified events that are created are sporting events
with a unique Greek identity, are a national treasure on which our national
income directly depends and overall, contribute to the well-being of our
country. Moreover, we should keep in mind that we don't create our
brand, but the audience that participates. We do not have a say οn this, but
our participants are the only ones who do, because it concerns them. For this
reason, we are optimistic about our new venture”.
“Travel” through the magnificent
images of Santorini’s landscape and the tune composed by the renowned Greek
artist Kid Moxie following an international career in Los Angeles, USA. The
music was inspired by the santouri. An ancient musical instrument, which is an
integral part of the Greek tradition and is widespread all over the world both
to India, China and to the west, in the Middle East, the Balkans, etc. Watch
the teaser video here: https://youtu.be/NUaOiwE548E
Register now – Free registration for
Thira Municipality Citizens Participants can register and take part in the
impressive “Daedalic Kore of Thira” Half Marathon and the 1.5 miles “L
& E Nomikos” Open Water Swimming. The citizens of Thira Municipality
can participate for free. Register here: https://bit.ly/3oyKX27
Run in the “Daedalic Kore of Thira”
Half Marathon
The “Daedalic Kore of Thira” Half
Marathon will take place on Saturday, September 24, 2022, running across the
enchanting areas of Oia, Imerovigli and Fira. More routes and surprises will be
announced.
Take part in the 1.5 miles “L
& E Nomikos” Open Water Swimming route from the Volcano to Fira Participating
athletes will have the opportunity to swim in the unique 1.5 miles (2.4 km) “L &
E Nomikos” open water swimming route, of Santorini Experience. The swimming event
is going to be held on Sunday September 25, 2022, starting from the volcano
with its finish line at the old port of Fira, under the imposing view of the
island.
Vikos Natural Mineral Water is the
event’s Official Water.
Englobia and Esperisma bar restaurant
are Official Supporters.
Up to this point, this year’s event
is enormously supported by the following hospitality sponsors / hotels: Kivotos
Santorini, The Tsitouras Collection, Vedema, A Luxury Collection Restort
Santorini, Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa, Colombo's Beachfront
Hotel, Sienna Eco Resort, 270 Oia's View – Lydia's House, West
East Suites, Marvarit Suites, Loizos Stylish Residences, Athina Luxury Suites.
Santorini Experience takes place this
year for the 6 th year and is organized by the Municipality of Thira and the
Sports Tourism department of ActiveMedia Group.
The event will be held under the
auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and the Greek National Tourism
Organization.
More information on new surprises of
this year's event and special offers for access to Santorini, will be
announced in the coming weeks at: www.santorini-experience.com
Sports Production: ActiveMedia Group
#SantoriniExperience
Credit in the use of each photo:
1: From the left: Sofia Kitsou, Sofia
Zacharaki, Antonis Sigalas, Angela Gerekou, Akis Tsolis (photo by John
Septouxas @ Santorini Experience)
2: From the left: Sofia Kitsou, Sofia
Zacharaki, Antonis Sigalas, Angela Gerekou (photo by Mike Tsolis @ Santorini
Experience)
3: From the left: Sofia Zacharaki,
Angela Gerekou (photo by Mike Tsolis @ Santorini Experience)
4: From the left: Nikos Gemelos,
Kelly Araouzou (photo by Mike Tsolis @ Santorini Experience)
5: Run in the "Daedalic Kore of
Thira" Half Marathon (photo by Santorini Experience)
6: Swimming from the volcano to the
old port in Fira in Santorini Experience (photo by Babis Giritziotis @
Santorini Experience)
