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“European Day of Languages” (24-29/9/2011) – Greek events organized by the Press Office

The Press Office of the Greek Embassy in Warsaw once again participated in “European Day of Languages 2011” events, that took place in Warsaw from 24 till 29 September and aimed to inform Poles about the cultural and linguistic heritage of European countries.

Organizers were over eighteen countries, members of EUNIC Cluster Warsaw (European Union National Institutes of Culture), among them the Press Office of the Greek Embassy, cultural institutes and embassies of European countries, as well as  other institutions such as the European Commission Representation in Poland, the European Parliament Communication Office in Poland, the Polish Foundation for the Development of the Educational System, the University of Warsaw etc.
The program (www.edj.waw.pl) consisted of demo language lessons, seminars, European film festival, theatre workshops, city game, language picnic etc.
The Greek program of the events included:
Demo lesson of Greek language, that took place in the Institute of Foreign Languages of the University of Warsaw on the 27th of September, as part of the demo-lessons of  languages and cultures of the participating countries.
Greek info stand, which was set in the University Campus of the Old Library of the University of Warsaw and provided touristic information on the 27th September from 9 am until 3 pm.
The film “The Trojan Women” directed by Michael Cacoyannis (1971) was shown at the Russian Cultural Institute on the 29th September, during the film festival organized in the Russian Cultural Institute (26-29 September) and the cinema Alchemia (25th September):
A wide range of other events were organized during the week (24-29 September): a two-day conference “Language Competences for Professional and Personal Success inEurope”, entertainment activities, theatre workshops, city games, competitions on a special website. This year`s project attracted many students and other visitors and it can be considered as a perfect opportunity to experience the Greek language and culture.

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Greek film “Harisma” in “The Awakening of the Summer” events in Warsaw (17-18/6/2011)

Some 2000 people gathered in the park  surrounding the Center of Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle in Warsaw on the night of 17 to 18 of June, waiting for the dawn to break and officially start summer 2011.
The Press Office of the Greek Embassy participated in the event, screening the film “Harisma”, a comedy directed by Christina Ioakeimidi in 2010.  
The first nights of summer are strongly connected with the atmosphere of an ancient midsummer St. John’s Night. These nights are filled with growing craziness, pleasure, ecstasy, romance, desire, love, energy and allure.
Ujazdowski Castle hosted such a special night organized in close cooperation with  EUNIC in Poland  Warsaw. On one indoor and three outdoor screens a rich choice of European films were offered ranging from crazy colorful Austrian Pepperminta, hot romance animation from Great Britain  to scary Nosferatu  from Germany. The night was heathen up with performances of the Estonian band OPIUM Flirt, the Dutch/Danish/Polish band Très.B and a Romanian DJ. In addition there were dance performances and food and drinks served from various European countries.
17 members of EUNIC in Poland Warsaw contributed to the event.
At 10.00 p.m. the vice-president of the cluster opened the program underlying that “The Awakening of the Summer” is a symbolic present to Poland that for the first time in history is taking over the EU presidency on the 1st of July. EUNIC members wanted to express their support and gratitude for the hospitality they have been experiencing in Poland.
The program ended at 4.00 a.m. with breakfast at sunrise.

PM`s George Papandreou visit to Poland

Prime Minister George Papandreou visited Poland on April 7 for talks with his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk and the country’s President Bronislaw Komorowski, in view of the Polish presidency of the EU, during the second term of 2011.
The two Premiers discussed the priorities of the Polish Presidency, especially in what concerns the Common Agricultural Policy, migration, as well as developments in the Middle East. Papandreou also made a special reference to his great-grand father’s Polish origins and the flourishing Polish community in Greece. 
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

World Poetry Day – 2011 Elytis Year

Odysseas Elytis and his work will be the focus of this year’s World Poetry Day, which is celebrated each year on March 21.
The National Book Centre of Greece (EKEBI) launches a poetry campaign including several events.
One of the day’s highlights is an event jointly organized by EKEBI and the Hellenic Authors’ Society which brings together well-known poets and writers such as Katerina Anghelaki-Rooke, Vassilis Vasilikos, Kiki Dimoula and Evgenia Fakinou to recite poems by Odysseas Elytis.
Athenians and citizens of Thessaloniki, Mytillini, Rhodes and Zakynthos will have the opportunity to come across illustrated verses by Elytis as public transport means will feature some of the Nobel laureate’s most beloved and renowned poems. Poetry reading nights, with young poets will also be held in Athens and Thessaloniki.
Moreover in Athens, poet Nanos Valaoritis will present a new theory regarding Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey at the Hellenic American Union, while at the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, World Poetry Day will be celebrated through poetry, music and stand-up poetry.
The year 2011 has been designated as an Elytis Year by Culture and Tourism Ministry, in order to mark the 100th anniversary since the birth of the Nobel laureate poet.
Nobel Prize Organisation: Excerpt from Worthy It Is, Poetry International Web- Odysseas Elytis: I Lived the Beloved Name, Drinking the Sun of Corinth, Marina of the Rocks, The Wind That Loiters.
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

Greece: Attracting Tourism Development

Greece ranked 29th among a total of 139 countries in a survey conducted by the World Economic Forum (WEF) regarding competitiveness for the tourism sector.
The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report is issued annually and grades countries on a total of 60 indicators, including policy regulations, resources, safety, prices and environmental protection. According to the survey, Greece benefits from its rich cultural resources (ranked 25th), excellent health and hygiene (20th), and a top-notch tourism infrastructure (5th). Further on, the report refers to the country’s strong national affinity for tourism (compared with many other European countries), including a generally open and positive attitude toward tourists (26th). The report ranks Greece 21st among European countries.
World Economic Forum: 2011 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

Αγώνες Special Olympics στην Πολωνία (18-24/9/2010)-Ελληνική συμμετοχή

Από τις 18 ως τις 24 Σεπτεμβρίου πραγματοποιήθηκαν στη Βαρσοβία οι Ευρωπαϊκοί Αγώνες Special Olympics, με την συμμετοχή 1.600 αθλητών από 57 χώρες της Ευρώπης και της Ευρασίας.
Στους αγώνες συμμετείχε και ελληνική αποστολή 86 αθλητών, δηλώνοντας με την παρουσία της – πέρα από το μήνυμα της αποδοχής της διαφορετικότητας και της ενθάρρυνσης της συμμετοχής ατόμων με διανοητική αναπηρία σε κοινωνικές και αθλητικές δραστηριότητες – την ενεργό προετοιμασία της Ελλάδας για τους επόμενους Παγκόσμιους Αγώνες Special Olympics (XIII Special Olympics World Summer Games) που θα πραγματοποιηθούν στην Αθήνα το καλοκαίρι του 2011.
Στην τελετή έναρξης των Αγώνων Special Olympics στις 18 Σεπτεμβρίου, παρευρέθηκε και ο έλληνας ευρωβουλευτής Γιώργος Σταυρακάκης, ο οποίος σημείωσε ότι η «Φλόγα της Ελπίδας» μετά την αφή της στην Αλεξανδρούπολη στις 5 Σεπτεμβρίου ταξίδεψε  σε οκτώ ευρωπαϊκές πόλεις για να φθάσει τελικά στη Βαρσοβία για την τελετή έναρξης των Αγώνων.
Ο κ. Σταυρακάκης υπογράμμισε την σημασία των Αγώνων Special Olympics ως το μεγαλύτερο αθλητικό γεγονός για άτομα με διανοητικές δυσκολίες, τονίζοντας την αναγκαιότητα στήριξης –και μέσω του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου- των προσεχών Παγκόσμιων Αγώνων Special Olympics στην Αθήνα, που στόχο έχουν όχι μόνο να ενισχύσουν περαιτέρω τα ολυμπιακά ιδεώδη της άμιλλας και του εθελοντισμού, αλλά και να βοηθήσουν στην ένταξη στο κοινωνικό σύνολο περιθωριοποιημένων ανθρώπων, καθώς και στην κοινωνική συνοχή.

Warsaw European Special Olympics – Multi-Medal Greek Team

The Greek Special Olympics Team brought home a total of thirty-four medals from the Warsaw European Special Olympics: eleven gold, twelve silver and eleven bronze.
Alexandros Stoupakis was the multi-winner of the event, with a total of four golden medals in weight-lifting. The athletics team performed exceptionally well with a gain of nine medals, including the fastest woman’s in the games, Niki Talamaga’s gold medal in the 100 m. event.
Next big date: the Athens 2011 Special Olympics.
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

The Stability Programme was submitted

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) The cabinet met yesterday  to approve the updated Stability and Growth Programme (SGP) 2008-2011, which was submitted today (15.1) to the European Commission in Brussels.

“We will achieve fiscal consolidation within three years. […] We can do it; this target is feasible,” said Prime Minister George Papandreou.
The premier added that the Stability and Growth Programme does not contain immediate fiscal adjustment measures only, but also a substantial part of the plan for the restructuring of the country.
On his part, Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou stressed that the deficit would definitely be cut, as Greece’s economy is expected to expand in the coming next years.
“The Programme was prepared with the decisive involvement of all ministries and it will be implemented through team-work,” said Papaconstantinou.
Kathimerini Daily: Cabinet stands by recovery plan; Ministry of Economy and Finance: Update of the Hellenic Stability and Growth Programme 2008-2011

“Apollon”: Athens 2011 Special Olympics Mascot

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) Athens will host the Special Olympics World Summer Games in 2011. During a press conference held yesterday (December 8), at Zappeion Hall, the Athens 2011 Organising Committee launched “Apollon,” the Games’ mascot, a radiant sun named after the God of Sun in Greek mythology.
The sun was chosen as “a source of life that underlines the excellence and power of the athletes participating in the Games,” said Ioanna Despotopoulou, President of the 2011 Athens Special Olympics Organising Committee.
With the slogan “I AM IN,” “Apollon” invites all people to join the “Wonderful Winning World” of the Games.
The launch of the Games’ mascot marks the countdown to the Athens 2011 Special Olympics, a leading sports event to be held from June 25 to July 4, gathering 7,500 athletes from 185 countries. 
You Tube: Athens 2011 Masco
“Apollon”
  & Promo Video