Receiving the members of Greece’s Olympic and Paralympic teams at the Paris Olympics in the presidential mansion, President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou said it was an “expression of recognition, on the part of the State, for your achievements, individual and collective, but especially of your effort, persistence and fortitude.”
Addressing the athletes, she said that each of them had distinguished themselves in an area where good sportmanship was prized alongside results, promoting values such as dedication to a goal, respect for opponents, humility and dignity. She noted that each of the athletes had not let any of the obstacles strewn in their path get in the way, achieving the summit.
Mrs. Sakellaropoulou concluded by congratulating and thanking all the athletes on behalf of all Greece, saying they had not only earned glory for themselves but also helped promote Greece worldwide, and greeting each of them individually.
The Chef de Mission in Paris Olympics Petros Synadinos and the Deputy Chef de Mission and ICMG General Secretary Iakovos Filippousis together with the Hellenic Olympic Committee President Spyros Capralos, presented the president with a shirt signed by the members of Team Hellas in Paris Olympics.
The event was also attended by Alternate Minister for Education, Religion and Sports Yiannis Vroutsis, the Secretary General for Sports Giorgos Mavrotas, the Olympic Attaché at Paris Olympics Michalis Fysentzidis, the HOC Secretary General Emmanouil Kolympadis and the President of the Hellenic Paraolympic Committee Giorgos Kapellakis.