Relive the spirit of the Ancient Olympics and take part in the Nemean Games, 2012

April 16, 2012 - PRLog -- Located in the Peloponnese area of southern Greece, the Nemean Games – first staged in 573BC – have been brought back to life and are looking for international contenders. It’s free, and competitors enjoy not only the amazing experience of racing just as the athletes of antiquity did, but also a village feast in honour of the Games afterwards, with acclaimed Nemean wineries furnishing the banqueting tables with excellent local wines. To take part, visit www.nemeangames.org (applicants must register by 15th May latest).

Half theatre, half athletics – the Nemean Games are performed with all the pomp and ceremony one would expect from an ancient sporting event. The Society for the Revival of the Nemean Games does not, however, think of putting on a show, but of providing an opportunity for anyone and everyone to become an ancient Greek athlete, to experience - as nearly as possible today - what it was like to participate in ancient Greek athletics 2,350 years ago. Contestants run barefoot and change into traditional white tunics (in place of ancient nudity) in the earliest-known locker room. They proceed to the stadium (constructed circa 330 BC) through the ancient tunnel – being careful not to damage the 2,300 year old graffiti – where each participant waits for his/her name to be announced by the herald before they run onto the track. The contenders draw lots for lane positions from a helmet held by a judge swathed in black robes and proceed to the starting line where they place their feet in the starting blocks used by ancient athletes over two millennia before.

Travellers – both male and female – can take part in either the 100m (actually, 90m) or they can test themselves against the gods and compete in The Footsteps of Herakles – a 7.5km race from the Temple of Herakles in Kleonai finishing in the ancient stadium of Nemea. The winner of each race has a ribbon tied around their head and is offered a branch of palm. At the end of the day, each winner receives a crown of wild celery, as was done in antiquity.

Part of the original Pan-Hellenic Games, along with the Olympic Games (Olympia), Pythian Games (Delphi), and Isthmian Games (Corinth), the Nemean Games are claimed to be the forerunner of the United Nations and today’s Olympic Games.

Says Stephen Miller, Professor Emeritus of Classical Archaeology at Berkeley, California and discoverer of the site at Nemea: “These Games encouraged the Ancient Greeks to stop fighting and to compete on a friendly basis via sport.  People from many countries have taken part over the past four games.  We welcome all to join us at the fifth Nemean Games on 23rd June this year, in the spirit of international understanding and in support of Greece during its current economic problems.”  

The Peloponnese region was immortalised in Patrick Leigh Fermor’s book Mani – travels in the Southern Peloponnese, and is a favourite with artists the world over; it is a beautiful part of Greece, with beaches, breathtaking countryside and some of the most important sites of the ancient world, including Epidavros, Nafplion, Olympia, Mycenae and Corinth to name but a few.

Visit during the week of the Games from £671 pp, departing 17th June
Whether planning on taking part or just interested in soaking up the atmosphere of the ancient Games, Sunvil Holidays has a one-week trip for £671 pp (two sharing), departing Sunday 17th June, including flights (Gatwick), transfers, self-catering accommodation at the Lido Apartments in the seaside village of Tolon and return taxi transfers to the Nemean Games on Saturday 23rd June.

To book, to request a copy of Sunvil’s real Greece brochure, or to speak to an expert, please call 020 8758 4758 (http://www.sunvil.co.uk). To take part in the 2012 Nemean Games, visit http://www.nemeangames.org (applicants must register by 15th May latest).

Ends – 16 April 2012

Press: For more information on Sunvil’s real Greece programme or to discuss press visits (with a suitable commission), please contact Anthony Sebastian at Travel PR on 020 8891 4440 or email a.sebastian@travelpr.co.uk.

Notes to editors:
Sunvil has pioneered many specialist destinations in its 42-year history and has been at the forefront of environmental initiatives and Sustainable Tourism for decades. Sunvil consistently promotes owner-managed hotels and local tourism enterprises across all destinations in which it operates, uses local suppliers and representatives wherever possible and encourages its suppliers to protect and treasure their local environment.

Sunvil Holidays offers complete peace of mind. Unlike the potential risks of booking a holiday DIY-style on the web, your money is 100% safe, guaranteed by the company’s bonds with the Civil Aviation Authority and AITO Trust, and via its membership of both AITO and ABTA.  And, as Sunvil acts as a principal and not merely as an agent for its suppliers, the company takes full responsibility for every aspect of its holidays and customer welfare.

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