The new Deputy Minister of Sports emphasized the great importance of sport, as it addresses almost the entire population, and its connection with areas such as education, training, health promotion, tourism and culture, Giannis Oikonomouduring the delivery-receipt ceremony that took place at noon at the Ministry of Education.

“I believe in actions more than words… Sports is an indicator of quality of life and well-being… I deeply believe that I am obliged to overcome and improve myself in order to offer our athletes the best conditions, even in view of of the 2024 Olympic Games… Greece, as the cradle of sports, gave and still has a lot to give in this field internationally and we need to do everything to make it a point of reference for the global sports movement“, pointed out, among other things, Mr. Economou, who underlined that the Prime Minister’s decision to upgrade the sports portfolio and bring it under the Ministry of Education, “it is declarative in its aim».

The statement of the new Deputy Minister of Sports in detail:

“Politics, as I understand it, is a circle, where as Seneca rightly observed, every new principle comes from the end of some other principle.

In the previous two years, from the position of Deputy Minister to Prime Minister and Government Representative, I struggled mainly with words. The position of government representative is a constant battle of words and an art of persuasion. In the Ministry that I come to now, more important are works and actions, in which I believe more than words anyway.

And indeed the bar is high, not only because of the work done in the previous period, but because the very word sport raises it high. Sports has the same root as the word feat, since, according to the ancient Greeks, an athlete is one who does feat, who manages to overcome himself and constantly improves. As Deputy Minister of Sports, I deeply believe that I am obliged to overcome and improve myself in order to offer our sportsmen and women the best conditions, especially in view of the 2024 Olympic Games. To offer the best to the Greek people who play sports , honoring the confidence of the Prime Minister and the strong mandate given to me by both the Greek men and women in the New Republic, as well as my compatriots in Fthiotida. Without them I wouldn’t be here today.

Sports is an area of ​​government work with a huge social impact and importance. Because it does not only concern sports professionals, but almost the entire population, who either play sports or watch sports events for entertainment and fun. Sport is an indicator of quality of life and well-being.

Professional sports, as one of the main global entertainment industries, is also an important part, with its particularities of course. Investments in this area have a double dimension: purely business, but also more broadly social. That is why athletes, sports fans and agents alike need to enjoy an upgraded sports product.

Sports policies are linked to education, education and citizen training, health promotion, tourism development, culture. And we are determined to cooperate with all those in charge and to expand the scope of our policies so as to contribute to the success of government work in all these areas, for the benefit of the citizens and the country.

The Prime Minister’s decision to upgrade the Sports portfolio and subordinate it to the Ministry of Education, Religion and Sports is indicative of its aim. Sports need to be more strongly linked with education and training. And we must not forget that the basis of ancient Greek education was gymnastics and music. Engagement with science began later, in adolescence. In fact, the Nobel laureate Albert Camus used to say “Everything I know about morality and a sense of duty I have learned from football”.

Greece, as the cradle of sports, gave and still has a lot to give in this field internationally and we need to do everything to make it a point of reference for the global sports movement. Democracy, philosophy, theater and sports are the greatest legacies of the Greek spirit to humanity, being at the same time an opportunity and a responsibility for us today. Opportunity to exploit this heritage and responsibility to preserve and promote it.

With the help of all of you, but above all with a lot of organized work, we will go forward, even stronger. Because this is the mandate of the citizens, this is the desire of the Prime Minister, whom I sincerely thank for his trust and this is our debt to our Motherland and its youth».