The memory of the Olympic games in Athens, said Gianna Angelopoulou-Daskalaki, receiving the “Olympia” award from the president of the International Olympic Academy Isidoros Kouvelos, “is the climbing to a high peak”. “Through all that I have experienced,” he added, “I believe that as a country we can climb again and again, whatever peak we want.”

Mrs. Angelopoulou-Daskalaki spoke at the 64th Session of the International Olympic Academy for young Olympic Ambassadors, the opening of which was announced this Sunday in Athens by the President of the Republic, Mr. Sakellaropoulou, and in the context of which she was awarded the “Olympia” award, for her contribution, as president of the Organizing Committee, to the 2004 Games. “I accept this award,” said Mrs. Angelopoulou-Daskalaki, “not on my own behalf, but on behalf and in the name of tens of thousands of people who worked or enlisted as volunteers at the Athens games. In the name of millions of Greek men and women who made the success of the games their personal bet”.

Regarding the 2004 Olympics, Mrs. Angelopoulou-Daskalaki pointed out that that summer “Greece gave a gift to the world Olympic movement. Modern games have been ethically reconnected to their historical roots.” But the games, he added, were a gift for Greece. “The gift was the celebration, in which the whole country took part. The gift was the confidence that the success of the event gave us. The gift was the prestige that the country acquired as a modern country, not just as an heir to a glorious history. The gift was the regeneration of Athens and its infrastructure – airport, Attica road, metro, beach front etc. And the games were also a gift to the national economy, which benefited manifold and would have benefited even more if we had better defended the heritage of races. The 20th anniversary gives us the opportunity to pick up the thread again, to make use of this heritage”.

The entire speech of Mrs. Angelopoulos

“Your Excellency Madam President of the Hellenic Republic,

Mr. President of the Academy, dear Isidore,

Mr. Minister of State, Mr. Voridis,

Dear Dora Bakoyannis,

Dear Governor of the Bank of Greece,

Ladies and Gentlemen, members of the Great Olympic Family,

You can, I believe, guess my joy and emotion, that I have the opportunity today to be among you again. Among those and those who will become the new torchbearers of an eternal idea, the Olympic idea. But also among old fellow travelers, with whom we shared the unforgettable experience of the preparation and organization of the Olympic games in Athens.

Dionysis Savvopoulos said it very well a few days ago. That, he said, was “the best summer of our lives.” But you all know how much sweat, how much anxiety, how many nights and how much dedication of how many thousands of people, it took to get to the magical summer of 2004.

We had to convince our skeptical friends in the international community to trust us. We had to inspire Greek men and women to participate. The Greek government had to turn the switch, change, enter an efficient operation mode. And we, the smallest country that ever dared to claim Olympic games, had to perfectly organize the largest, most difficult and complex human organization in peacetime.

We did it. That summer, 20 years ago, Greece gave a gift to the world Olympic movement. Modern struggles were reconnected, not just geographically but morally, to their historical roots. But the games were a great gift for Greece as well.

The gift was the celebration, in which the whole country took part. The gift was the confidence that the success of the event gave us. The gift was the prestige that the country acquired as a modern country, not just as an heir to a glorious history. The gift was the regeneration of Athens and its infrastructure – airport, Attica road, metro, beach front etc. And the games were also a gift to the national economy, which benefited manifold and would have benefited even more if we had better defended the heritage of races. The 20th anniversary gives us the opportunity to pick up the thread again, to make use of this heritage.

I am personally proud to have been a part of that wonderful adventure. And I accept this award, which you have been kind enough to bestow upon me today, with a sense of honor and gratitude. I do not, however, receive it on my own account. I accept this award on behalf and in the name of tens of thousands of people who worked or enlisted as volunteers in the Athens games. In the name of millions of Greek men and women who made the success of the games their personal bet. Without them, we would never have achieved success. The memory of the races, I believe for everyone, is climbing a high peak that we all stepped on together. I too believe, from all that I have experienced, that we as a country can climb again and again, any peak we want.

Thank you”.