Cup Final 8: It was a celebration for everyone – The social actions organized by EEC

The OPAP Cup Final 8 showed that, in its own way, it is a celebration for everyone. In Heraklion from February 16 to 19, EEC, in collaboration with UNICEF Greece, the 1st Special Primary School of Heraklion and the Hellenic Mediterranean University (ELMEPA) carried out social awareness actions. These actions showed that basketball is #einagiortigiaolous, proving that everyone was invited to the celebration of Greek basketball!

On February 17, a particularly influential visit was made to the 1st Special Primary School of Heraklion. The students received balls and sports equipment from the EEC and played basketball with Sophocles Schortsianitis, Fanis Christodoulou and Panioni players. In addition, the staff of EEC, UNICEF Greece, Panionio and Big Sofo took part in interactive actions of inclusion through the game, which were designed by the special educators of the school, thus offering not only joy to the children but also encouraging the great work done by special educators.

On the same day, a seminar on the protection of human rights was organized at ELMEPA. The speeches highlighted the need for social and sports partnerships in the field of protecting children’s rights, while the importance of developing special tools for the inclusion of children with special needs in the sporting reality was analyzed. Luciano Kalestini (head of the UNICEF office in Greece) and Nikos Nikolopoulos (General Secretary of EEC) presented elements from the strategic planning of the cooperation between EEC and UNICEF Greece.

The following day, EEC officials participated in the voluntary blood donation organized by the National Blood Donation Center (EKEA) and the Pancreatic Association of Voluntary Blood Donors of HematoCrete, where more than 20 bottles of blood were collected

On February 19, the day of the Olympiacos-Peristeri final, the volunteers of the 1st Special Primary School and ELMEPA presented actions they had planned for the motor and sensory disabilities. In particular, the volunteers had designed special stands for a number of disabilities, where fans of the final had the opportunity to learn about disabilities and participate in experiential activities of the everyday life of people and children with disabilities. Walking with a wheelchair, walking with closed eyes using a white cane for the blind, use of Braille material, informative videos with the difficulties that people with disabilities experience in their daily lives formed the context of this specific action.

The president of EEC, Vangelis Liolios, donated tactile representations of a basketball court (which were manufactured by EEC) to three blind people, thus giving them the opportunity to attend the first sporting event of their lives, while at all events he gave the “ present” is Nikos Zisis, general manager of the Men’s National Team.

All the above actions are part of the social actions carried out by EEC and the participation in the Basketball For Good program of the FIBA ​​Foundation and demonstrate the sincere dedication and commitment of the Hellenic Basketball Federation to use the sport as a tool for positive changes. EEC is already planning the next sustainable development actions to take place at the European Men’s U20 Championship, which will take place next summer in Heraklion, Crete.