The trophies that the Men’s National Team won in the Eurobasket of 1987 and 2005, were exhibited on Saturday at the basketball museum of XANTH. In fact, the president of the EEC, Vangelis Liolios, promised that the “holy grail” will travel throughout Greece in the near future.
Three protagonists on the road to the top of Europe, Nikos Stavropoulos from the team of 1987, as well as Nikos Zisis and Dimos Dikoudis from that of 2005, were there awakening memories of the glorious moments.
Present at the event, in addition to many people and especially many families and children, was the mayor of Thessaloniki Konstantinos Zervas and from the administration of the Hellenic Basketball Federation the president Vangelis Liolios, the treasurer and deputy mayor of Thessaloniki Nikos Zeimpikos Konstantinos and Giannis D Farrier.
«These two trophies marked all Greeks and together the basketball history of Greece. We are glad that these two trophies are hosted here and this coincides with the first official match of the Men’s National Team in Thessaloniki after decades. There is an intention for these two trophies enriched by others to return literally all over Greece, in every corner, in every city, town and small area. Because history is alive and we want to inspire the new generation to remember and envision“, Said the president of the EEC.
For his part, the mayor Konstantinos Zervas, stated: “Thessaloniki today hosts the two historic Cups of the National Basketball Team, the official favorite of all Greeks, welcomes the new administration of the EEC, but mainly welcomes the National Basketball Team, for the first match after 34 years in ‘Alexandrio’. We are glad that we have a new beginning, in an effort to bring similar successes. This meeting, this commitment of all of us takes place here, at XANTH, where basketball started in Thessaloniki. Here we have all learned what basketball means and together we will help in this endeavor. The municipality of Thessaloniki is close to tomorrow’s match of the Men’s National Team, but also to all the efforts that will be made so that the sport that the Greek loves so much has all the infrastructure and support, to reach moments of glory and pride, such as 1987 and 2005. Good luck to the National Team and congratulations to those who have worked for all these successes».
The event was hosted by Dionysis Ananiadis, President of the XANTH Basketball Museum, and with him the Ambassador of the Museum Abroad (who also has Nikos Zisis), Lakis Tsavas and the member of the Board, Michalis Giannouzakos. They all thanked the EEC for the initiative to bring the trophies to Thessaloniki and conveyed the wishes for the victory of the Men’s National Team in Sunday’s (17:00) match against Belarus in “Alexandrio” for the 2023 World Cup qualifiers.
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