The Marianna Vardinoyannis Foundation and Special Olympics Hellas co-organized on Wednesday, January 23, 2019, at the NJV Athens Plaza Hotel, a touching night of hope and optimism to strengthen the Greek Expedition of Athletes at the Abu Dhabi 2019 Special Olympics World Championships. 
 

 “I'm really excited that all of us here are becoming a great chain of love and strength for our athletes that make us feel proud every time they participate in international and national competitions. We are proud of all these great champions of life, but also for their families and coaches that support them,” said Mrs. Marianna Vardinoyannis, President of the Special Olympics Hellas Honorary Committee and UNESCO's Goodwill Ambassador, in the presence of the President of Special Olympics Europe - Eurasia Mr David Evangelista.

 

The President and Founder of Grecotel, Mr. Nikos Daskalantonakis, attended this important sporting event, accompanied by Grecotel executives and the NDF non-profit organization he founded.
 

The former Prime Minister Loukas Papadimos attended the event as well as: the Deputy Minister of Sports Mr. Giorgos Vasiliadis, the US Ambassador. Mr. Geoffrey Pyatt, the Ambassador of Spain Mr. Enrique Viguera, the representative of the Archbishop of Athens and Greece, Bishop of Thespies Mr. Simeon, the Rector of the University of Athens Mr. Athanasios-Meletios Dimopoulos, the former President of the Academy of Athens Mr. Antonis Kounadis, the General Secretary of the Presidency of the Hellenic Republic Ambassador Georgios Gennimatas, the MP and former President of New Democracy, Mr. Ioannis Plakotakis and the Special Olympics Honorary President Andreas Potamianos.  
 

Also, the event was attended by eminent businessmen such as Mr. Giorgos I. Vardinoyiannis and Mr. Dimitris Kontominas, famous artists known for their sensitivity, such as Sakis Rouvas and Michalis Hatzigiannis, representatives of the Armed Forces, the media and the general business world, as well as a number of other distinguished guests.