In Greece, the cyclists running for the return of the Parthenon Marbles

In our parts the saying “the end justifies the means” is easy on the lips and thought. It is often misunderstood. There are, however, ideas, with the vision of people full of ideals, inspiration and supports, which elevate some important – and always relevant – purposes. There are actions that “shout” about moral issues and are combined with a process that is more than symbolic.

The symbolism, of course, was and will be more than obvious in the route “London – Athens on two wheels”, of a group of cyclists who started on August 14 from the English capital and (in a particularly meaningful starting point) the British Museum, to reach the country not just holding the Greek flag.

Vasiliki Voutzali, together with Steffen Streich, Yiannis Efthimiou, Vassilis Kordas, Stavros Soumas, traveled a distance of 1,965 km from London to Ancona, carrying with dynamism to France, Belgium, Switzerland, and southern Italy the “Bring Them Back” message.

The back of their cycling attire, bearing the distinctive slogan, reminded every place and location of the demand for the return of the Parthenon Marbles from England, to their homeland.

On Tuesday morning (23/8), the five cyclists arrived in Igoumenitsa, from where they started the last part of their journey. A march that will continue in order in Kastoria, Thessaloniki, Larissa, Delphi, Thebes, before ending on Sunday (28/8) in Athens. The German cyclist, Stephen Streich, who has been living in Mytilini for 20 years, explained that “arriving in Igoumenitsa, I was telling my fellow athletes that when I set foot on Greek soil, I felt something inside me that I didn’t even feel in my homeland! Something I can’t explain.”

Greece, as he mentions, is now his second home and speaking about the important purpose of the return of the Marbles, he pointed out that “I connected immediately. I realized that it was worth both the time and the effort and we found a way to capture our love for cycling, but mostly for Greece and its culture. We got a purpose to show everyone how we can do things that matter. To show the world that if you want something badly, you can achieve it.”

Vasiliki Voutzali emphasized upon arrival that “despite the difficulties, we overcame them all with a smile and we look forward to arriving on Sunday afternoon at OAKA, then at the Acropolis Museum and finally at Paleo Faliro. By combining vacations with cycling, the idea was born to show something beautiful about Greek culture, while also honoring three of our friends, Kostas Kesini, Stelios Goulielmos, Theofani Barla, who have passed away from us…”.

For Vasiliki Voutzalis, the march from London to Athens “is the march that the Parthenon Marbles must take and return home!”. The initial thought was realized with the help of a friend of hers, the cyclist, Constantinos Hatzipantellis, who is G.G. of the Institute of Anthropogenic and Natural Disasters and Crisis Management, Civil Protection. And on the other hand, with the generous contribution of both Mr. Alexis Koulas and the Municipality of Palaios Faliros.

The five cyclists will be accompanied on Greek soil by Christos Koromilas, a disabled cyclist with limited vision. On all routes there will be an accompanying vehicle with them and Vasiliki Voutzali explained that this “is a valuable contribution of “Honey & Bread” and Mr. A. Koulas, who made sure that the car was next to us, for everything we need. Thanks to this, our only meaning is to just pedal and enjoy the moment and reach each destination, where friends from local cycling associations and groups will be waiting for us. In the organization, there was the undivided help of the Municipality of Palaios Faliros and the Mayor, Mr. Ioannis Fostiropoulos, for everything that was needed in the organizational part of our project.”

In the course of the five cyclists in our country, their goal is not just to shout “Bring Them Back”, but to join their voices with the world and they are waiting by their side for those cyclists who wish to follow them. For the third cyclist of the group, Stavros Soumas, this is a parallel goal, as “we show that some demands do not need fuss or even wars. We do it in a peaceful and sporting way, because everything is solved with the culture, which is identical to our homeland”.

He emphasized that “a handful of people started from Greece to achieve their own “want”, initially with our sports and cycling. To make the world understand that everything is better through sports. What we liked, in Vasiliki’s idea for the message in favor of the Marbles, is that they belong to Greece and it is necessary and imperative that they return to their home…”

The journey from London to the moment we boarded the ship to Greece was great, as there is a different cycling culture, with great cycle paths that even connect cities. We, in Greece, on the other hand, have other elements, such as the sun and the atmosphere, things that remind us and give us that ancient power that causes inexhaustible energy. That’s why we should also be strong, as a people.”

And as Melina Mercouri, as Minister of Culture, told the then president of the British Museum, David Mackenzie Wilson: “I hope to see the Marbles back in Athens before I die. But if they come later, I will be reborn…”

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