Greece’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes from Paris 2024 were honored in a special ceremony held in the Plenary Hall where each athlete was awarded the Medal of the Hellenic Parliament.

The event was part of the Conference on “Promoting Safety, Integrity, Equality, and Inclusion in Sports,” a joint initiative between the Hellenic Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in the presence of Mr. Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe. The President of the Greek Parliament, Mr. Konstantinos Tasoulas, welcomed athletes who ranked from 1st to 8th place in the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In his remarks, the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Spyros Capralos, raised concerns about the declining number of sports facilities in Greece, which has left many athletes without suitable sports venues. He reiterated the HOC’s proposal that top-ranking athletes (1st to 8th place) in the Olympics be offered positions within the broader Public Sector as a recognition of the national pride they bring to Greece.

“Without intending to overshadow today’s celebration,” Mr. Capralos stated, “I must remind everyone that in 2004, we established exceptional infrastructure and facilities, hosting one of the most successful Olympic Games. However, 20 years later, despite the growing recognition of the immense benefits of sports in our society, our facilities have declined drastically, with many remaining underutilized.

To give a concrete example, as the pride of our achievements in Paris remains fresh, a new Olympic cycle toward Los Angeles has already begun, yet, unfortunately, many sports still lack proper training facilities. The Hellenic Olympic Committee has done everything in its power to reward Team Hellas for their accomplishments. We urge the State to expand existing legislation to allow athletes who place within the top 8 in the Olympic Games to secure positions in the Public Sector.

Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, the time has come to focus on these critical issues and move forward. The Olympic Committee and I personally call upon you to stand as allies in actively promoting these values strengthening the foundation of Greek sports in a way that is meaningful, consistent, and sustainable.”

Representing the athletes, Evangelia Platanioti, who placed 6^th in artistic swimming, and Grigoris Polychronidis, Paralympic bronze medalist in boccia, emphasizing in their speeches the importance of enhanced support for sports and athletes in Greece.