By Daniel Etchells

The results of the sponsorship programme were presented at the Hellenic Olympic Committee conference hall ©HOCGreek athletes preparing to compete at Rio 2016 will receive support and funding from a total of 28 sponsors, companies, banks and individuals, it has been announced.


The results of the "Adopt an Athlete on the Way to Rio 2016" sponsorship programme, inspired and implemented by Spyros Capralos, President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, were revealed at a special event.

The event, presented by the journalist Popi Tsapanidou, was attended by the Deputy Sports Minister Giannis Andrianos, the general secretary for sport Kyriaki Giannakidou, the HOC secretary general Manolis Katsiadakis members of the HOC plenary session, along with representatives from sport and the Olympi and family and relatives and friends of the athletes.

In a speech, Capralos spoke of how the financial crisis that has afflicted Greece has had major consequences for sport in the country.

"The Hellenic Olympic Committee's State budget has been reduced by more than 50 per cent, now amounting to less than the money needed to cover the staff's salaries," he said.

"The special state funding for the preparation of elite athletes was for the last time allocated by the state in 2009.

"As a result, we could not stay restful."

Spyros Capralos (left), President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, was the inspiration behind the "Adopt an Athlete on the Way to Rio 2016" sponsorship programme ©Getty ImagesSpyros Capralos (left), President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, was the inspiration behind the "Adopt an Athlete on the Way to Rio 2016" sponsorship programme
©Getty Images




Capralos continued by explaining how the HOC went about executing the sponsorship programme.

"To begin with, we compiled a portfolio, intended for individuals and companies, with personal data of the athletes, information on their sports career and distinctions as well as a budget for their preparation from 2014 to the Olympic Games of Rio in 2016," he said. 

"This portfolio is an introduction to the athletes' profile and needs, so that the potential sponsors are able to make a selection according to their personal criteria.

"Then, we adopted a "door-to door" approach, one might say.

"We took advantage of every single opportunity to raise the awareness of people who both wanted and were in a position to provide assistance."

Capralos also thanked Nicoletta Panagiotopoulou, a member of the HOC Marketing Commission, for her contribution to the success of the programme, before paying his gratitude to all the sponsors.

"Your offer is not only an important offer for Greek sport," he told them. 

"It is an important offer for Greece that now, more than ever, is in need of celebrating achievements and presenting a positive image to the whole world.

"It is also a powerful message that the sports youth of our country must not be abandoned, as it keeps holding up the Greek flag, with important achievements and distinctions at top international contests".

A total of 55 athletes will be supported by the programme across 13 different sports. 

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