Greece, signalling its intention to contribute actively to the international challenges of the global climate crisis, is taking initiatives to support the protection of the oceans and hosting the 9th international "Our Oceans Conference" (OOC-9), which will be held in Athens on April 16-17th, 2024, at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, "Our main goal is for this conference to produce tangible results. Not only to discuss environmental protection, but also to proceed with tangible actions and commitments," Hellenic Minister of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis said at a recent press conference. Greece will accompany the hosting of this international organisation with 20 commitments for the protection of Greek seas and the sustainability of economic activities. Commitments will be announced on the day of the conference, and some will be immediate, while some will extend to 2030. The first ones already announced concern the immediate passing of legislation establishing two large national marine parks in the Ionian and the Aegean, which will be among the largest in the Mediterranean.

Just outside the site of the ancient Olympic Games, hooting owls break the nighttime silence at a white marble monument containing what’s left of a singular Frenchman’s heart. Baron Pierre de Coubertin was the driving force behind the modern Olympics, and as head of the International Olympic Committee oversaw the last Games to be held in Paris, exactly 100 years ago. On Tuesday, the flame that will burn at this summer’s Olympics — the French capital’s third — is to be lit among the ruined temples and sports venues of Olympia in southern Greece. The 5th century B.C. temple of Zeus in ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games, is seen under the stars, early Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in a night-time image made following special permission by the Culture Ministry. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) And its first stop on the relay that culminates in the July 26 opening ceremony will be at this cypress-ringed memorial to Coubertin, where the torchbearer will light an altar in his honor. That happens at every lighting ceremony, but this year it will have a special resonance, according to Spyros Capralos, head of the Greek national Olympic committee. “We pay respect to the (monument) of Coubertin every time ... the flame goes first there,” Capralos told The Associated Press. “And now, 2,800 years after the first Olympic Games, we are happy that the (Games) are returning to Paris, birthplace of Pierre de Coubertin.” The French aristocrat’s efforts, inspired by the ancient games and his wish to invigorate a contemporary sports culture, led to the inaugural modern Games being staged in Athens in 1896. The seat Coubertin used at the renovated ancient marble stadium in the Greek capital is still preserved, with his name carved on it. Before he died in 1937 and was buried in Lausanne, Switzerland, Coubertin left special directions for his heart: It was to be removed and placed inside the monument erected in his honor ten years earlier just outside the ruins of ancient Olympia. The Olympic rings are seen behind the double face marble statue known as Hermes in the marble Panathinean Stadium, venue of the first modern Olympics in 1896, in Athens, early Friday, April 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) The future King Paul of Greece performed the ceremony in March 1938, following a blessing by black-robed Greek Orthodox priests. The grove is now part of the International Olympic Academy, an institute established to promote education on the history and principles of the modern Games. Born in 1863, Coubertin was the second president of the IOC — after Greece’s Demetrios Vikelas — serving from 1896-1925. His tenure included the games held in Paris in 1900 and 1924. On a personal level, his life was marred by family tragedy that might explain his single-minded dedication to the Olympics. His son suffered severe brain damage at a young age, and his daughter struggled with mental health issues throughout her life. Coubertin had no other children, and two close nephews were killed in World War I. (AP) The Olympic Flame lighting ceremony ahead of the Paris Olympic Games will take place at the ancient site of Olympia on April 16th in a public event that will be televised live around the world. The high priestess at the ceremony will be Mary Mina, who will hand over the flame to the first torchbearer, Greek Olympic rowing champion Stefanos Ntouskos. It will then be carried by some 500 torchbearers on a 2,000-kilometer journey across Greece, culminating on April 26 at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, the site of the first modern Olympics in 1896. The torch will then set sail to Marseille from Piraeus on board the three-masted Belem, a ship classified as a historical monument since 1984. The torch will be used to light the Olympic Flame when it arrives in France on May 8th, which is just over two and a half months before the Games begin on July 26th.  

One son is expensive enough, he says, especially the cost of ferrying him around his remote corner of northeastern Greece where the number of children has plummeted in recent years. Most afternoons he drives 13-year-old Nicholas 50 km (31 miles) to play soccer with the few other children scattered across the region. If Nicholas needs a paediatrician, it is even further. “To have a family these days, you need to become a hero,” Giannakidis said on the sideline of a recent soccer practice. “To have a second child, more money must come into the house.” As much of Europe struggles with tumbling birthrates that experts say threaten long-term economic wellbeing, Greece is a stark example of how hard it will be to reverse the trend. In 2022, it recorded the lowest number of births in 92 years, according to most recent data, driven by the debt crisis that led to years of austerity, emigration, and changed attitudes among the young. Preliminary unofficial data indicate another drop in 2023. Greece’s fertility rate is one of the lowest in Europe: some villages have not recorded a single birth in years. The government is planning in May to unveil new measures to boost birthrates, officials told Reuters. The plan includes cash benefits for families, affordable housing for young people, financial incentives for assisted reproduction, and incorporating migrants into the workforce, according to officials drafting the initiatives including the family minister. The full size and cost of the plan is not yet clear. However, similar measures have fallen flat in other EU countries in recent decades, and demographers expect little difference in Greece. Even those behind the plans have doubts. “If I were to tell you that any given minister at any given ministry ... can reverse the trend, it would be a lie,” Sofia Zacharaki, Greece’s minister for social cohesion and family affairs, told Reuters. Still, she said, “We need to keep trying.” Streets devoid of children Giannakidis’ village of Ormenio and the wider Orestiada municipality - one of the country’s poorest - reveal the magnitude of the problem. The population of Orestiada, a crop-growing area bordering Turkey and Bulgaria, shrank 16% between 2011 and 2021, census data show. Ormenio used to be full of children, but now two thirds of the 300 residents are over 70, said village president Stratos Vasiliadis. Nicholas, the only 13-year-old in Ormenio, spends much of his weekends playing video games alone. He wants to leave at 18. “I might send him to my sister in Germany to study,” his father said. The silence that blankets Ormenio is occasionally broken by church bells that peal over shuttered businesses and an empty playground, and by the mobility scooters elderly men drive to the cafe for games of backgammon. Most of the church pews are unoccupied at Sunday mass. Trains that pass through Ormenio used to bring visitors but today haul tanks bound for Ukraine. A newly extended border fence in the area, part of the conservative government’s toughening immigration policy, keeps undocumented migrants out. “We used to gather at weddings, at baptisms. Now we meet at funerals,” said 61-year-old Chrysoula Ioannidou. “There are very few births.” Vasiliadis’ brother Thodoris, a speech therapist, organises art workshops for 20 or so children from surrounding villages. He said isolation had stunted their social skills. One boy’s stutter worsened because he had no friends to talk to, he said. Another cycles the village’s empty streets alone. Ormenio’s situation is mirrored to varying degrees across Greece and the EU, where governments including France, Italy, Norway and Spain have spent billions of euros on pro-child measures  - often to little avail. Greece’s economy has rebounded in recent years, but falling birthrates are, according to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, a “national threat” and a “ticking time bomb” for pensions. Priority policy Even before the incentives planned for May, the government created a birth allowance and tax breaks on baby items, and extended private sector maternity benefit. These have shown little sign of working. “This is one of the most serious problems we face not only in Greece but in the EU as a whole,” Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis told Reuters. “It is our priority ... whatever it takes.” Part of the government’s challenge is to overcome the trauma of the debt crisis. Just a few years ago, as protests raged over the government’s austerity policies, youth unemployment was over 60%. It remains around 25%. Hundreds of thousands of young Greeks left. Those that remain are often priced out of the property market due to inflation and soaring rents. Many live with parents into their 30s. Orestiada municipality suffered heavily. A sugar factory that provided hundreds of jobs shut down and is fenced off in an overgrown lot. Scores of other businesses are boarded up. The nearest primary school to Ormenio, which serves 17 villages, is thinning out. The whole first grade - four children - can fit in their teacher’s morning embrace. Next year there will be none, headmaster Dimitris Rossidis said. “The future doesn’t look bright,” he said. First grade teacher Nektaria Mouropoulou says she would like to have a family but she earns 1,000 euros ($1,083) a month, a third of which goes to renting a tiny flat. She crosses into Turkey to buy cheaper gasoline, and her mother helps with bills. “When you’re in your 30s and earning 1,000 euros, of course you’ll think whether to have a family,” she said, adding that politicians were missing the point. “That they’ll give 20 euros for the first child, or 50 or 100, doesn’t solve the problem.”

Interunity Group, the leading shipping services company, presented the first edition of the IG Cycling race - THERMO2024, at an event held at the Hotel Grande Bretagne on Wednesday,   March 13th, 2024. A new sporting challenge, a demanding race, which will be held on June 1st on the imposing mountain range of South Pindos. The cycling race will raise significant amounts with the aim of supporting the charity ELPIDA - Association of friends of children with cancer, as well as the charity Common Seas, in the context of the leading Maritime Exhibition Posidonia 2024. More than 100 athletes will take part in the endurance cycling race and will have the opportunity to ride two demanding routes, in the mountains of South Pindos, of unparalleled natural beauty. The routes of 83km and 163km reach peaks of approximately 1400 meters and approximately 4000 meters of elevation gain, in the heart of Greece. The race will start and finish in the picturesque village of Thermo, three hours from Athens. This new sports institution supports two charitable organizations, which the Interunity Group has in its heart: ELPIDA - Association of friends of children with cancer, and Common Seas. The primary charity of the event, the Hope Association of Friends of Children with Cancer, was founded in 1990 by a group of dynamic women, with the aim of developing a framework of treatment and support for children suffering from cancer, as well as their families. Common Seas leverages the collective experience of people, governments and businesses to become the catalyst for finding and developing local, national and international solutions to tackle marine plastic pollution and improve ocean sustainability. Dimitris Nikolakis, from Interunity Group, and one of the founders of IG Cycling, whose contribution made the dream of creating this race a reality, said: “We have high expectations and believe that THERMO2024 will be a great event. It's definitely a race for strong nerves, but it's all about pushing the limits and fulfilling our dreams. Apart from the unique experience of the stunning beauty of the South Pindos mountains, what we are most looking forward to is joining together with friends from the global shipping community, raising awareness and raising as much money as we can for 2 very important charities. We are grateful for the significant help we have had from all our sponsors and their contribution to the creation of this race, which we hope will be the first of many to come.” The sponsors of the IG Cycling – THERMO2024 event are: SOKANA, Lexus, KPI Ocean Connect, Marshall Islands Registry, Faros Marine Services, Navigator Towage and Agencies Worldwide, Fleetwork, M&F Chartering, Aspida Travel, AVRA, Semeli Estate, EZA, Physio, Top Cycles, Kassimatis Cycling, We Insurance, Bike Sale & Academy , Cubic Marine Logistics, Hermes Harisiadis. The event was honored with their presence: Panagiotis Antonopoulos Deputy Regional Governor of Sports of Western Greece, Vasilios Diamantopoulos President of the Hellenic Cycling Federation, Spyridon Konstandaras, Mayor of Thermo, Peggy Filippou ELPIDA - Association of Friends of Children with Cancer, Aliki Lampropoulou Common Seas.   About IG Cycling IG Cycling - THERMO2024 is a cycling race in the heart of Greece, organized by the Interunity Group. It is a new institution, for cycling enthusiasts and for those for whom love of fellow man and solidarity are fundamental values, especially within the maritime community. This race will give them the opportunity to experience the thrill of cycling on different racing routes and raise significant amounts for environmental, children's and social charities. IG Cycling and its team consists of people with great technical and organizational experience in similar events in Greece and abroad. Its aim is to showcase Greece, its natural beauty, its people and its hospitality and to provide a high level of service to all participants, with standards on a par with cycling events taking place across Europe. www.ig-cycling.com About Interunity Group Interunity Group is the leading services group in the shipping industry, being a family of companies. The group includes IMC, a leader in ship management with a long tradition in specialist gas, chemical and product tankers, as well as container ships and MPP vessels, SOKANA, a global commercial ship management company and Burlington Asset Services (BAS). , which provides specialized risk management services to important institutions in the maritime space.  

Clean Monday is not only a religious observance but also a cultural event that celebrates the onset of spring, embracing renewal, cleanliness, and spiritual reflection. Clean Monday falls on the Monday of the 7th week before Orthodox Easter Sunday, varying each year according to the date of Pascha (Easter). Historical and Cultural Significance The name "Clean Monday" refers to the leaving behind of sinful attitudes and non-fasting foods. It is a day of joy, outdoor activities, and a return to simpler, more natural ways of living, in line with the Lenten period's emphasis on simplicity and moderation. Historically, Clean Monday is tied to ancient celebrations of spring, echoing pagan festivals that celebrated the rebirth of nature. Over time, these traditions were woven into the Christian faith, symbolizing spiritual rebirth and preparation for Easter. One of the most picturesque customs of Clean Monday is the flying of kites. Families and friends gather in open spaces, hills, and near beaches to fly kites of various colors and sizes, symbolizing the human spirit's attempt to reach the heavens. This tradition is accompanied by laughter, competition, and the joy of being outdoors after the winter months. Food plays a central role in Clean Monday celebrations. The day is marked by a special meal that adheres to the Orthodox Christian fasting rules, which means abstaining from meat, fish, dairy products, and eggs. The Clean Monday feast typically includes a variety of Lenten dishes, such as "lagana" (a special flatbread baked only for this occasion), "taramosalata" (a spread made from fish roe), olives, octopus, and a wide array of pickled and fresh vegetables. These dishes are not only a nod to the fasting period but also celebrate the bounty of the earth, aligning with the themes of renewal and simplicity. In addition to kite flying and feasting, Clean Monday is a time for outdoor picnics, musical and dance performances, and other communal activities that bring people together. In many parts of Greece, traditional dances and songs add to the festive atmosphere, with locals donning traditional costumes and engaging in folk dances.

Where the Greeks will have a Clean Monday Starting with the carnival destinations, which traditionally star with high occupancy, Patras, Xanthi, Skyros, Rethymnon, Naoussa, Kastoria, Tirnavos, Kozani, Ioannina, Kefalonia, Rhodes, Amfissa, Kalamata, Galaxidi and Corfu will attract Greek visitors from every corner of the country, the president of the federation of tourist offices in Greece Lysandros Tsilidis notes. The 3-day carnival always has increased traffic mainly in the areas where the carnivals are held with great success, notes Mr. Tsilidis and adds that the main characteristic of the 3-day carnival is the fact that the visitors come from the urban centers near the carnival areas. At the same time, organized travel once again prevails in the planning of travelers and for this reason travel agencies pre-purchased seats on ships and planes in order for consumers to buy budget packages. From the above, it can be concluded that the carnival destinations do not "drop a pin" from the visitors, as occupancy exceeds 90% in open accommodation. At this point, Mr. Tsilidis speaks of an increase in sales this year in excursion packages of more than 10%, compared to 23, when last year there was a 30% increase compared to 2022. Regarding the prices of the packages given to Greek travelers, they were competitively priced and for this reason there was a great response, explains Mr. Tsilidis. Specifically, a 3-day stay in Patras starts from 115 euros per person (2 nights - transport and accommodation). A five-day stay in Xanthi starts from 135 euros per person, a 5-day stay in Skyros costs 310 euros, in Rethymno 3 nights will cost 375 euros per person, while in Kastoria for 2 nights the person will spend 175 euros.   Clean Monday Vs March 25th Given the great appeal of the well-known traditional carnival destinations, it is interesting to see how the destinations of the Central Greece region will move over the two or three days. Speaking to APE-MPE, Sofia Flega, president of the hoteliers in Karpenisi, notes that the three-day period of March 25 shows better mobility than that of the Carnival, and this is because the area does not have any special event to attract carnival excursionists. Moreover, the fact that both 3 days are consecutive does not help, as Mrs. Flega mentions. In any case, occupancy in the accommodations on Halloween will be recorded at 80%, while for the three days of March 25, occupancy will reach 90%, always for Karpenissi. Regarding the available prices of the accommodation, the double room starts from 70 euros. Remaining in the region of Central Greece, Evia due to its proximity to Athens will move with very good occupancy, as the president of the Edipsos hoteliers reports to APE-MBE, especially with regard to the three days of Halloween. As Mr. Roumeliotis explains, occupancy will exceed 80%, since a carnival parade with 35 floats will take place in Loutra of Edipsos, an event that will attract many visitors. For March 25, however, things are not expected to have the same momentum, since the picture of pre-bookings does not reveal a corresponding picture. Of course, hope is transferred to last-minute reservations, as Mr. Roumeliotis mentions. However, there will be rooms available for those who decide to travel to Evia at the last minute, with prices starting at 40 euros for a double room. On the same wavelength and one of the most popular carnival destinations, Rethymno, where the accommodation occupancy is at 100% for the three days of the Carnival and locals and visitors will experience the magic of the Rethymnon carnival, as the tourism consultant emphasizes to APE-MPE of the municipality, Kostas Falangas. The Rethymnon carnival is an institution, as early as 1914, the year in which there are reports of events. As it is characteristically mentioned: "the first elements of humorous events, carnivals of another era, which has left its nostalgic aroma diffused to still smell", says Mr. Fallangas. With the preparations of the hotels being at their zenith in view of the new tourist year, The Westin Resort Costa Navarino hotel, which has already been open since February, has occupancy that reaches 100% for the two 3 days of Carnival and March 25, with the Greeks to have a significant share in the hotel's traffic. In fact, the hotel receives a large number of golfers from Northern Europe, also due to the fact that direct flights to Kalamata airport have started. The rest of the Costa Navarino units open in April and early May. After the festive 3 days and the escapades of the Greeks, foreign visitors to Greece will take over, as from the beginning of April the country's tourist resorts open one after the other and until Easter there will not be a tourist business that will not be open to country. The messages for 2024 are positive and everyone hopes that the new tourist season will be another year in which Greek tourism will be the protagonist of the positive news.

Thousands of citizens will have fun with dancing, singing, acrobatics, the traditional merry-go-round at the Carnival events organized by the Athens Chamber of Commerce, the Municipality of Athens and OPANDA. The venue will be the historic center of the city - Syntagma, Plaka, Monastiraki - as the aim of the chamber is the revival of carnival events in the "Quarter of the Gods". "We want to see again in the streets of Plaka carnival-goers having fun with their souls, as was the case in the past. Let's once again make the most beautiful corner of Athens the center of the capital's carnival events and let this celebration be from now on a pole of attraction for residents and visitors, something that will also stimulate entrepreneurship", is the message of the president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce Yannis Hatzitheodosiou. The municipality of Athens will culminate this three-day Halloween celebration with a series of events, in neighborhoods and in the city center. For Saturday (16/3) activities for young and old have been planned in various parts of Athens. Children will create their own paper war collage in the Art Gallery, participate in an educational experiential program in Agios Georgios Square in Kypseli and have fun at the Halloween celebration on the pedestrian street at the junction of Gennai Kolokotroni and Matrozou. The Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens will flood the Kallidromi with its melodies, the percussion ensemble Bloco Swingueira with Brazilian rhythms and dance will perform a carnival route from the Peripheral Filopappou to Merkouri Square, while cultural clubs will revive customs in other parts of the city. In Zappeio, there will be a children's Halloween celebration and a revival of the Plakiot Carnival by the Athens Chamber of Commerce. On Halloween Sunday (17/3) young and old carnival goers will participate in two big celebrations in the center of the city. In the morning (11:30), children will go wild in their carnival costumes at Zappeion, where group games and pantomime, stilt walkers, circus artists, mascots and many surprises await them. In the afternoon, the Athens Chamber of Commerce revives, with the support of OPANDA, the traditional carnival in the streets of Plaka with a large carnival procession, which will start at 17:30 from Syntagma Square, with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens and other musical and dance forms to set the rhythm. Following the route through Ermou and Evangelistria streets, Mitropoleos Square and Pandrossou Street, the parade will end at Monastiraki Square. This will be followed by a series of spectacular acts with acrobats, impressive dancers, Brazilian dances, as well as superFire & Pyroshow and supermagic show. The event will be presented by Ioanna Maleskou and Thanos Vagios. On Clean Monday (18/3) the focus will be, as always, on the Hill of Philopappos, for the Athenians to celebrate Koulouma with music and dance and to fill the Attic sky with colorful kites. The Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens will welcome the public from 11 am, while at 12 noon the music group "Charisma" and Isidoros Pateros will take the stage. "Throughout the weekend of March 16 and 17, the streets and squares of the city turn into an endless colorful merry-go-round, with parties for children, musical meetings with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens, carnival routes with the flavor of tradition. On Clean Monday, March 18, you are all invited to Filopappos Hill to traditionally celebrate Koulouma with music, dance and Lenten food", said the mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas.   The program of events in detail Saturday, March 16 11:00 Athens Municipality Gallery Collage with confetti in the Art Gallery. Halloween museum educational program for children aged 4 to 6 years. Young visitors will observe Rika Pana's works in the exhibition space and create their own paper war collage. 11:00 Agios Georgios Kypselis Square "Carnivalize, play, tumble" - Children's educational experiential program. 11:00 Gennaiou Kolokotronis & Matrozou Children's Halloween celebration. Music, dancing, Halloween competitions for the best costume, theatrical performances, games and many surprises for the little carnival-goers. 11:30 Kallidromiou Street Musical tour of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens 12:00 Regional Filopappou-Troon-Dorieon-Merkouri Square Carnival route with the percussion ensemble Bloco Swingueira with dance and rhythms from Brazil. 12:00 Papadiamanti Square-Halepa-Agios Andreas Lamprini Square Carnival route of the revival of lesbian skating with the participation of lesbian skaters from the Lesvos Farmers' Union "Agios Dimitrios" and the Cultural Association of Traditional Dances and Cultural Activities "O Molyvos". Sunday, March 17 11:30 Zappeio (courtyard area) Children's Halloween celebration with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens. Music, dance, stilts, balloon construction, face painting, circus artists, group games, pantomime, mascots and many surprises for the little friends. 17:30 Syntagma Square and Monastiraki Square Revival of Plakiotiki Carnival. Action of the Professional Chamber of Athens with the support of OPANDA. Carnival parade from Syntagma Square and carnival spree in Monastiraki Square. * The event will take place simultaneously in Syntagma Square, in the surrounding streets and in Monastiraki Square. Clean Monday, March 18 Filopappou Hill 11:00 Musical walk by the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens. 12:00 Concert by the band "Charisma" and Isidoros Pateros. 11:00 Park for Children & Culture (former K.A.P.A.P.S.) Traditional feast with music, dances and Lenten dishes from the Cultural Association of Ano Ampelokipi. With the support of OPANDA.  

The decision by its new owner, Cypriot businessman Andreas Christodoulides, who bought it along with another Onassis Olympic Airways-era plane, which is now in Lavrio, where it is being restored, is to showcase an era of modern Greek history. “These airplanes are historic for Greece and Hellenism, the Olympic airplanes should be remembered by the world and our children and our grandchildren,” he says. His goal was to buy them for the public to view and appreciate. A great admirer of Onassis, Christodoulides said he bought the planes so that the Greeks would not forget – “so that the world remembers Elliniko [Athens’ former airport), Olympic and Onassis.” “I feel proud of Greece… it is as if I have bought the Acropolis, and I am putting it somewhere for Hellenism to see.” Christodoulides has for the last 18 years been the owner of Zela Aviation, while about two years ago, when he returned to Greece from London after 38 years, he founded its subsidiary, Zela Jets.

The “4th Women In Digital Forum”, the conference made “institution” for Women in Tech, STEM and Digital is coming on March 7th, 2024 in the form of a different and inspiring event, combining dialogue about the present and the future, with a glittering celebration of what has been achieved to date. In a world driven by Technology, the “4th Women In Digital Forum”, will seek to amplify voices, reduce differences and shape the appropriate dialogue framework for the rightful place of women in business, public sphere, and society. Riper, stronger and richer, the 4th Women In Digital Forum will highlight every point of view and proposal to break down barriers, in a quest for an inclusive community, where every woman can thrive and make a meaningful impact. Through critical discussions, engaging panels, workshops and networking opportunities, Smart Press aims to create a supportive ecosystem that propels women forward in their digital careers. Join as we explore the limitless possibilities in the digital world and showcase the diverse talents and perspectives women bring to the table. Participants include Hellenic Labor Minister Domna Michailidou.  Visit womenindigital.gr for more details and registration.  

Awaiting the accounting data, according to the first estimates, the Greek participation, with a national stand, was one of the most successful in recent years with a very large number of visitors expressing their interest in the upgraded presence of our country. The country's 11th consecutive participation in the top exhibition in Barcelona was also characterized by the high-ranking presence of government officials, local authorities, chambers of commerce and organizations. In particular, the opening of the Greek pavilion was attended by, among others, Dimitris Papastergiou, Minister of Digital Governance, Konstantinos Kyranakis, Deputy Minister of Digital Governance, the Regional Governor of Attica, Nikos Hardalias, Georgios Pitsilis, AADE Governor, and the Secretary General of Telecommunications and Posts, Konstantinos Karantzalos. Also, Marina Efraimoglou, president of EBEA, Tassos Tzikas, president of TEF - HELEXPO SA and the president of SEKEE Manos Makromallis, Ms. A common point of their interventions to the domestic and international audience was the progress that has been made in recent years in the digital transformation of the country with the central goal of serving citizens and businesses. As they emphasized, the effort will continue with greater intensity in cooperation with the innovative Greek business. But at the center of Greek participation this year was the great progress our country has made in its digital transformation in the Public Sector. It is typical that in the framework of the MWC at the stand of the global telecommunications and technology giant Telekon, a discussion was organized on the example of digital transformation of the public sector in Greece with the participation of the Deputy Minister of Digital Governance Constantinos Kyranakis, Dominique Leroy, member of the Board of Directors of Telekom, responsible for Europe and Grigoris Christopoulos, Chief Commercial Officer Business Segment of OTE Group. Ms. Leroy spoke about the impressive progress of the country, which is an example in Europe and made a special reference to the services of gov.gr, but also to the digital assistant mAIgov, which is based on Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Deputy Minister made a special reference to the further strengthening of the country's image to the international community, noting that achievements in the field of digital transition, such as the initiatives of IDIKA in Health, were shown at the Telekom booth, which is visited by thousands of professionals and executives from all over the world . He also stated that another important step will be taken to further reduce the time it takes to register properties in the Land Registry, announcing the use of Artificial Intelligence for the legal control of contracts. The national participation was co-organized by the Hellenic Investment and Foreign Trade Company (Enterprise Greece), in collaboration with the Association of Innovative Applications Enterprises of Greece (SEKEE) and the Ministry of Digital Governance. The national mission had the support and active participation of entities such as the Region of Attica and the Regional Development Fund, Eurobank and EGG, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center "ARCHIMEDES", the National Register of Young Businesses "Elevate Greece", the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBEA) and the Athens Business Incubator (THEA), HELEXPO BEYOND , NBG Seeds of the National Bank, EKEFE Dimokritos, the European Innovation Hub for Digital Governance GR digiGOV-innoHUB, as well as the investment fund Phaistos 5G Ventures. The Greek companies that participated in the MWC had the opportunity to explore the possibilities of concluding agreements and partnerships, while the results were also in the field of networking. Intrakom Telekom, Adaptit and Pandas also participated in the MWC with a stand for the 17th year in a row. Artificial Intelligence in focus More generally, at this year's MCW exhibition, Artificial Intelligence was at the center of the presence of the total of almost 2,500 exhibitors from every sector of the economy, Health, Tourism, Telecommunications, Culture, Entertainment, etc. International technological giants and not only, such as among others, Huawei with the largest exhibition stand, equivalent to an entire exhibition space of an ordinary exhibition, Google, Amazon, Samsung, Xiaomi, Honor, Ericsson, Cisco, Lenovo, EY, presented all the technological solutions that create the new intelligent interconnected world that is born with a focus on Artificial Intelligence. At the center of the new interconnected smart world, smart phones were once again at the center of the new interconnected smart world, with mobile phone subscribers exceeding 5.5 billion. internationally. With the new technologies that are now integrated, smart mobile phones are evolving into the digital assistant of each user, who can use the device to handle an impressive amount of daily tasks and transactions.

The pre-Lent festival will conclude on March 17th, a Sunday. This year's theme is "Be Unplugged!" and the events will begin on Wednesday (January 16), with town crier (Maria Agouridi) riding on a musical float, announcing the famed carnival's start, and calling the public to gather at the square. On Saturday morning, a procession will take place with musical bands, carnival bicycles, the organizers, the carnival queen (Georgia Sakka), and other celebrants. Then Patras Mayor Kostas Peletidis will receive the carnival's banner. At 18:00 on Saturday a party will start at the Aghios Georgios Square, while at 20:00, the theater troupe Helix and a Baroque procession will leave from the City Hall to parade through the city with participants including actors, musicians, acrobats, fire jugglers, and Harlequins. This is the traditional Saturday night parade, not the spectacular Grand Parade at the close of the carnival. At 21:00, the mayor will declare the official opening of the Patras Carnival, to be followed by the traditional 'chocolate war', during which the city's confectioners throwing chocolates from the City Hall's balcony. A concert will also take place and the start of the annual Treasure Hunt will be also declared. The official schedule of the carnival has not been announced yet, while festivities every year include surprises. The Patras Carnival is the largest in Greece and involves preparations that begin a year earlier, with a large number of volunteers as well.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center is a meeting point for people, ideas and cultures. People of all ages, of every race, free from discriminations, gather in all of its spaces, with no restrictions, on any occasion of their life, in smaller or larger groups, at times to attend the events offered at the SNFCC all year round. At Christmastime, the Cultural Center puts on its festive gear and every nook and cranny of its premises is lit up to welcome and embrace this meeting of people, this coming together, its public, on a great festive occasion: Gatherings. This year, the SNFCC’s Christmas World is presenting impressive public artworks by Vendel & de Wolf, Tom & Lien Dekyvere, and VOUW (Justus Bruns and Mingus Vogel) from the Light Art Collection (Netherlands); by Jonas Vorwerk from WIREFRAME Public Art Agency (Canada); and by Petros Dermatas – luminous dreams from Greece, inviting the audience to join in the magical experience they create. Luminous, airy shapes and grids and sparkling compositions make up a choreography of light, provoking interaction with the viewer, while at the same time enhancing, through the embodied experience, the interaction of visitors with public space and the dynamics of human coexistence within it. All light installations are accessible for people with disabilities. SIGN Great Lawn Vendel & de Wolf (Netherlands) Light Art Collection, Netherlands Bamboo canes, lined with aluminum tape, rise up into the sky, as if swayed by the wind, and transform into a cluster of fiery, light-emitting tongues, a sign of fire. Their rhythmically flashing light seems to be emanating from the earth, rising upwards, spreading a glow across the night. The bamboo poles, both light transmitters and receivers, send out their bright flames into the night sky, expressing the twofold nature of fire: both a force of destruction and of rebirth. Humans use fire to create things; fire turns sand into glass, flour into bread; but fire also destroys. The installation seeks to reproduce the awe caused by this wondrous element of nature, and to activate the importance of fire as an archetype, as a force that warms but also annihilates, as light and as darkness. Fire awakens the senses and creates a mental crossroads, in which the viewer is asked to choose between destruction and new beginnings. Sign marks a starting point for two different routes. Paul Vendel (1964) and Sandra de Wolf (1966) have been co-creating since their student years at the Amsterdam’s Gerrit Rietveld Academie. Their works consist mainly of installations in outdoor or semi-outdoor public spaces, and are usually site-specifically designed for these spaces. The artists prefer to incorporate recognizable items and found objects or materials in their works, which are addressed to the wider public. RHIZOME Dome Tom & Lien Dekyvere (Belgium) Light Art Collection, Netherlands Collaboration and solidarity visually translated into a work of art is the idea behind this installation by Tom and Lien Dekyvere. A web of stretched, thin, cord-like ropes forms a multilevel structure that floats overhead and metaphorically reflects the concept of network in the era of modern technology. The fibers extend from one point to another, weaving an evocative abstract landscape, a “cocoon” inspired by the various different ways in which contemporary people communicate with each other, either in person or remotely. They connect different times and places, highlighting the shared need of all people for communication. The project was redesigned for the SNFCC Dome. Tom and Lien Dekyvere explore the deeper levels of reality and cognition. They focus on the boundaries between nature and technology, robots and humans, the animate and the inanimate. Like modern alchemists, they experiment with new and unexpected connections between the natural and the artificial, the metaphysical and the real, creating installations that prompt an expanded sensory perception. BLOOMLIGHT Mediterranean Garden VOUW (Netherlands) Light Art Collection, Netherlands The Bloomlights are a series of lanterns that respond to passersby like an organic creature. When a viewer approaches, the Bloomlight slowly bends to meet them and “talk” with them by unfurling its blooms to reveal a warm soft light. The tall lampposts with their elegant bright lampshades transform into objects resembling tender alien beings or human-friendly machines. They become the object and subject of viewing, reciprocating the gaze of the spectator. When the passerby walks away, the Bloomlight gradually returns to its upright resting position, closes its luminous bloom and dims its light. Drawing inspiration from nature, and showing sensitivity about the issue of light pollution and reckless energy consumption, the Bloomlights are designed to shine bright only when needed, thus limiting overconsumption and giving center stage to the starry sky and the magic of nature. Justus Bruns and Mingus Vogel met at Delft University of Technology and have been working together since 2017 under the name VOUW, based in Amsterdam. Their concern is the use of technology as a tool for cultivating empathy and real contact between people, instead of its utilization only in terms of efficiency and productivity. Observing the evolution of modern reality, they envision the future and propose a public space that is friendly and welcoming for all. LOOPS Southern Walks Jonas Vorwerk (Netherlands) WIREFRAME Public Art Agency, Canada The audiovisual installation Loops creates an environment of five luminous rings that produce sound and light in interaction with the viewer. They are essentially simply designed, user-friendly devices that combine analog with digital technology in their operation. The viewer is invited to touch and handle the circular devices and play with the musical compositions they emit, improvising or changing the pace of the sound. The ring acts like a steering wheel, while its circular shape affords it an element of movement that matches the repetition of music in loops, as well as the movement and color changes of the light as it flows in the periphery of the circle in sync with the rhythm of the music. With references to the musical experimentations with analog tape recorders of the ’50s and ’60s, which laid the groundwork for the modern way of sound production, the installation combines digital technology and the lived experience, the touch, the presence, the connection with space and materiality, thus fusing an older way of using technology with modern-day developments. Loops create a soundscape that is activated by touch, while at the same time involving the intangible element of musical waves and light radiation. It functions as an outdoor music workshop in which the viewer, technology, sound, light, aesthetics and the natural environment work together to complete the project. Jonas Vorwerk is a multimedia artist who creates environments made of light, sound and space. He uses the element of repetition, randomness, interaction and variables, to explore ways of osmosis between digital technology and physical reality. He is interested in music and the spectacle in relation to entertainment and the modern mass culture, and wants his works to be exhibited in large public places, busy streets and open landscapes, always in interaction with the viewers and in relation to all their senses. This is the second time a work of his is hosted at the SNFCC, the first being his installation Light Holders , which was presented last year at the Great Lawn. Synathroisis Planted Roofs Petros Dermatas: luminous dreams (Greece) The image of lit lighters raised in the hands of audiences at concerts of the past, as a sign of participation and interaction, formed the inspiration for the luminous landscape created by Petros Dermatas: luminous dreams. If the movement of these lighters can be seen as “echoing” the candles people used to hold during ceremonies, then modern-day mobile phones have taken the place of lit lighters at concerts. In any case, they indicate active participation and convey the warmth created by the connection of an individual with everyone else around. The lighting installation that looks like a sea of bright spots, each of them unique, speaks to the importance of public gatherings in shaping our individual identity. In a reality where the individual’s alienation from the whole makes the need to belong imperative, the installation Synathroisis uses the magic of light to help the viewer confront vital social issues, suggesting that there is power “in unity.” The Petros Dermatas: luminous dreams lighting design workshop was founded in Athens in 2022. The workshop uses a research approach that affords each creation a distinct original feature. Showing respect to the inherent characteristics of materials and paying great attention during the production process, the workshop aims for the highest standards and a combination of craftsmanship and artistic design. 01/12/2023 - 07/01/2024 17.00-00.00 *Photographs: Nikos Karanikolas