Oikonomou: “Sports for all, our central goal for the next four years”

In detail what he said:

“The inclusion of the Sports portfolio in the Ministry of Education is indicative of how the Prime Minister and our Government perceive Sports and what are the directions we seek to promote.

Our main goal for the next four years: Sports for all. We want to increase the percentage of our fellow citizens who exercise regularly. To multiply the beneficial effects of Sport on physical health and mental health, as well as social behaviour.

And with this logic, we are committed today to 7 policy axes.

First axis: More sport for everyone.

Qualitative and quantitative upgrading of Sports in schools, with scientifically organized intervention and systematic investment in school sports. Using financial tools, we will design and implement a voucher program, which will be used in clubs or gyms, so that children can try sports and find what they like.

More and better exercise for all ages to improve physical and mental health while reducing a range of morbidity factors. We also plan to promote open outdoor sports, by organizing mass sports activities in places with natural beauty.

Second axis: Sports facilities.

We are moving forward with important projects to modernize, maintain and upgrade the sports facilities that have been launched since our first four years: relocation of the sports facilities of Agios Kosmas, interventions in the OAKA, reconstruction of the closed gymnasium in Peania.

We will have close cooperation with the Local Government, both for the implementation of sports infrastructure projects, and for the utilization of the school yards as exercise areas outside the school shift. But also to create soft sports infrastructure (walks and cycle paths).

Third axis: Policies for a healthy competitive sport.

A necessary condition for this is to decisively address the main threats to Sport, such as inequalities and discrimination in sports venues, violence, harassment, corruption, doping, match manipulation.

We take care of the accessibility of sports facilities for people with disabilities, tackling violence and discrimination in Sports. Especially for sports violence, we will work methodically in the direction of prevention and treatment in schools. We emphasize sports education, another essential reason we brought Sports to the Ministry of Education: to form healthy fans and not intolerant fans, with another sports fan culture embedded.

We insist on the fight against doping, a phenomenon that does not only concern professional athletes, but has entered the daily life of many athletes.

We are rapidly implementing the implementation of the National Sports Integrity Platform, to protect competitive and professional sports from any form of manipulation. In the last week of November, the “Sports Integrity Week” will be organized in Athens with the participation of the Council of Europe, Interpol, International Olympic Committee and UEFA.

Fourth axis: Strengthening the federations, associations, athletes and the extroversion of our Sports.

Sports has a strong developmental dimension, contributing to the recovery of the Greek economy and tourism.

We are planning the creation of new sports national products, connected to the historical and cultural tradition of our country. We have before us the Acropolis Rally 2023, the 3rd Mediterranean Coastal Games 2023, the International Cycling Tour. In the coming season, two finals of European football competitions will be held in Greek stadiums. We will compete for the Diamond League event in Athens in the coming years.

We do not forget the practical support of our federations, associations, athletes and champions participating in international competitions, especially the 2024 Olympic Games. With timely grants, grants that will be enriched and with the resource from the bet, which will be valid for the next period as well, we will do everything possible to stand on the side of Sports and our athletes participating in international events. Sports in our country has a strong social footprint. The State stands by to help big and historic football and basketball teams get their own “home”. And we will continue in this direction, both in the case of SEF and the Thessaloniki teams.

Finally, we place particular emphasis on the proper administration of sports organizations. Our main priority is the promotion of the Register of Sports Bodies where, with a hierarchical structure, it will start from the federations and end up with the athletes. This visualization will enable full transparency in the sports field.

Fifth axis: Digital transition in Sports as well.

With the digitization and interconnection of all sports services and the development of digital tools to improve sports.

Sixth axis: The sports fan culture in Education.

Systematic cultivation of sports fan culture and the ideals of Olympism in Education. At the same time, we organize international university sports studies programs in Greece.

Seventh axis: Put a brake on toxicity in professional sports.

We are determined to act within the framework defined by national laws and international conventions, so that the sports product offered to the Greek sports fan is of high quality, attractive and healthy.

Toxicity in politics was emphatically decried in the recent election, and it’s time to put it behind us for good in professional sports as well. Our society has proven that it precedes and requires bold choices. Sports private companies will find us determined supporters if they want to upgrade their product.”