The City of Athens and the Special Olympics World Summer Games Athens 2011 Organising Committee today signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in a deeply moving ceremony held at Athens City Hall. As of today, the Special Olympics flag will wave alongside that of the City of Athens, in front of City Hall.
During the special ceremony held in the Democracy hall, Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis noted: "The idea of the Special Olympics lends meaning and substance to universal values which have been more or less forgotten, such as social solidarity, social contribution and showing love for your fellow human being. For this reason, our meeting here today and the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation not only has a practical function, but is a symbolic act. It serves as an occasion to remember that volunteerism constitutes the surest path to a society which is more humane and shows greater solidarity. Whatever awakens our sensitivities and reminds us that collective action and social contribution concern all of us.
The Special Olympics also lend us an opportunity to raise national and citizen awareness in terms of safeguarding the rights of individuals with mental disabilities and, chiefly, their right to dignity and quality of life. For this reason, I would like to thank Ms Despotopoulou and the Special Olympics organisation for giving us the opportunity to convey a message of collectiveness and social mobilization for all those important goals which we, as a society, are called on to fulfil".
Athens 2011 organising committee chairman Joanna Despotopoulou commended Nikitas Kaklamanis' contribution to the joint goal of staging successful Games and in her address noted:
"You, Mr Mayor, boarded our train very early on and have traveled with us for many years, encouraging us to continue our efforts with the same passion, to create a society worthy of human dignity. And now that the time has come for us to prepare as best we can to receive 10,000 athletes from 185 countries here in Athens, together with their coaches, families, officials and prominent personalities who will participate in the World Games, you have agreed - together with the entire Athens City Council - to substantially contribute to this event all that is so beautifully written in the memorandum we sign here today. We are truly grateful as the economic situation and innumerable problems deprive us of the ability to reach out with optimism to inspire Greek citizens, to mobilize the business community, to raise awareness among the major public welfare institutions so that they can join us in this major humanitarian, cultural, educational and sporting event that Athens will host in 2011".
The memorandum of cooperation includes, among other elements: the provision of a City of Athens camping ground in Agios Andreas to accommodate athletes and chaperones, the provision of all available camping facilities, collaboration in the planning of communication programmes concerning the event, the contribution of the City of Athens in the promotion and success of the Volunteer Programme, the joint organisation of events, the provision of Municipal staff to meet the needs of World Games Athens 2011 and collaboration on the implementation of the "Polis - Amphitrion" Programme.
General Secretary for Sport Panos Bitsaxis, who also attended the ceremony, said: "We are the experiencing the launch of one of the most significant social awareness-raising events and it will take place in our country in 2011. We thank the Mayor of Athens very much and the city of Athens for making a decisive contribution to the organisation of this event. It is an event that promotes sport but, most importantly, it promotes social acceptance. This is what it signifies and this is what we are called on to serve".
International Olympic Academy chairman Isidoros Kouvelos, New Democracy sports spokesperson Kostas Koukodimos, LAOS MP Yiorgos Anatolakis and other representatives of political parties, social welfare agencies, as well as Athens City Council members, were also present at the ceremony.
