THI Summer Youth Academy, the free sports and educational summer program, by The Hellenic Initiative in collaboration with Eurohoops, tipped off activities with an impressive opening ceremony at the Indoor Gymnasium of the Leonteios School Of Athens. Stars from sports or the music scene and entertainment joined members of the Board of Directors of The Hellenic Initiative in a special Exhibition Game to mark the start of the program, in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Health, Eirini Agapidaki, and the President of the Board of Directors of The Hellenic Initiative, George Stamas, and important executives and partners of the program. The Basketball Show of freestyler Dude K with his magic basketball tricks rounded off the event in the best way.
The management of The Hellenic Initiative and the Eurohoops coaching team welcomed the 100 children aged 14 to 18, who started their training program at the Leonteios School Of Athens facilities. In the “premiere” of the program, the kids met their coaches and teammates, started practicing some basic basketball techniques, and played through fun drills.
Shortly after, all the children, along with their parents, went to the stands of the Indoor Gymnasium of the Leonteios School Of Athens, with distinguished guests arriving. NOVA’s Christos Kaouris opened the ceremony, introducing the main points of the program. The speeches were completed by the EuroLeague Legend, Theo Papaloukas, as host, since Eurohoops Academy Leonteios, which he directs, is based in the Leonteios School Of Athens.
Surprises did not stop there, as the unique freestyler Dude K had prepared an impressive Basketball Show for the kids. Tricks with the favorite basketball, trick shots, and interactive games with the kids set the best opening for the program.
THI Summer Youth Academy is focused on basketball but is more than just a simple summer basketball camp. The kids will get to know the sport theoretically and practically with the help of the experienced and specialized coaching team, they will attend motivational speeches, and educational and creative workshops, creating unforgettable memories.
Participants in the Exhibition Game
• Artemis Spanou, international basketball player
• Athina Papafotiou, international volleyball player
• Antonis Nikopolidis, former football player, Legend 2004, football coach
• Vaso Stasinou, former basketball player
• Deniz Dimaki, triathlete
• Dimitrios Koulouris, swimmer
• Dionisia Alexandri, international basketball player
• Evina Maltsi, former international basketball player
• George James Tsunis, Ambassador of the United States to Greece
• George P. Stamas, President of the Board of Directors of THI, Senior Partner Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
• Georgia Kaltsi, wheelchair fencer
• Giannis Nikopolidis, football player
• Giorgos Koutsioumpas, Greco-Roman wrestler
• Giorgos Chatzipavlou, stand-up comedian
• Theo Papaloukas, former international basketball player, EuroLeague Legend
• Ian Stratis, singer/actor
• Ioanna Diela, international basketball player
• Konstantinos Flegkas, water polo player
• Kiriaki Liosi, former water polo player, water polo coach
• Kostas Tsartsaris, former international basketball player
• Maria Samoroukova, former basketball player
• Nasos Galakteros, former international basketball player
• Nikos Deligiannis, former water polo player
• Nikos Koumettis, member of the Board of Directors of THI and President of the Europe Operating Unit of The Coca-Cola Company
• Nikos Stathopoulos, member of the Board of Directors of THI and President of the European Unit of BC Partners
• Tristan Vukcevic, NBA player
• Charalambos Papanikolaou, swimmer
