Aftermath of the Honorary Event on the Olympic Ideals of the Timeless Marathon Runners of Patras

RECEPTION OF THE OLYMPIC FLAME LIGHTING IN THE CITY OF THE OLYMPIC HYMN AND THE TORCH RELAY
Thursday, November 27, 2025

In the elegant space of the Gallery “ODEIO” of the Cultural–Sports Center, opposite the Roman Odeon, and within the framework of the honorary reception of the Olympic Flame Lighting in the city of Patras—the city of the lyricist of the Olympic Hymn, Kostis Palamas—a moving evening was held dedicated to the timeless Olympic ideals and symbols.

The event honored the marathon runners of Patras, who with unwavering passion and devoted commitment promote and embody Olympic values and excellence through their participation in every expression of the beautiful, the great, and the true.

It was a cultural, Olympic, and artistic event co-organized by the Association of Fine Arts of Patras “Kostis Palamas”, the Cultural–Olympic Center “Kostis Palamas”, and the Walking, Running and Marathon Club “Phaethon”. Together, athletes and lovers of Olympism expressed—through the speakers Dr. Theodoros Mallias and Kimon Apostolopoulos—the collective duty to highlight and promote the unique cultural heritage of Patras.

They called for:

• the promotion of Patras as an International City of the Olympic Hymn and Torch Relay,
• the recognition of Kostis Palamas’ Olympic Hymn as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage,
• and the establishment of Western Greece as the “Land of Olympia”.

This vision was powerfully articulated in the audiovisual lecture by Professor Theodoros Mallias, who presented the importance of promoting these Olympic symbols, as well as the House of Palamas as a landmark of Olympism. Together with a specially curated video titled “The Legendary Moral Olympic Moments of the Modern Olympic Games” and the performance of the Olympic Hymn first heard at the inaugural lighting ceremony at the House of Palamas, the event revived and strengthened the hope for the immortality of the Olympic spirit.

The aim is to form a strong shield of moral resistance against the ideological erosion of the modern Olympic Games, in order to preserve the Olympic achievement of Peace and Brotherhood among all peoples of the world.

Also impressive was the audiovisual presentation by Kimon Apostolopoulos, along with emotional references and honorary awards. The commemorative volume “The Artists Create Culture” by Dr. Theodoros Mallias and an ancient-style runner’s brooch were presented to the honored marathon runners, who were symbolically celebrated for their endurance across ultra-marathon routes in forests, mountains, the Alps, France, Rome, and Cyprus—carrying the message of “Nenikikamen” (We have conquered), excellence, and fair competition.

The event was blessed by Reverend Father Alexios, representative of the Metropolitan of Patras, and greeted by distinguished guests including former Minister and President of the Christian Democratic Party Nikos Nikolopoulos, Deputy Regional Governor of Achaia Fokion Zaimis, and former Regional Governors of Epirus and Western Greece, Ms. Dimitra Basta-Georgakopoulou and Apostolos Katsifaras.

Special mention was made of the presence and greeting of Panos Seretis, President of the Association of Patras Residents of New York “Kostis Palamas”, and the written greeting from the dynamic partner of the Hellenic Canadian Congress in Montreal, Canada, Vice President for Public Relations and nuclear physicist Kostas Papas.

Greetings were also delivered by Makis Koulouris (representing the municipal faction “Spiral”) and Apostolos Stathopoulos (representing the Aivalis faction).

The event was coordinated by the distinguished journalist Panagiotis Rigopoulos and television correspondent Achilleas Papadionysiou, devoted supporters of Olympic ideals and excellent presenters of cultural and artistic events.

The care and artistic curation of the Olympic and cultural exhibits, including the altar of Olympic torches, was undertaken by Georgia Yachou-Mallia (President of the Cultural–Olympic Center), Aristia Nikolaopoulou (Board Member of the Walking and Running Club “Phaethon”), and Mára Giouli (Secretary of the Center), in an exemplary and unique manner.

Special thanks were extended to Loux and Mavrogiani Winery for their generous support.

On behalf of the Association of Fine Arts of Patras “Kostis Palamas” and the Cultural–Olympic Center “Kostis Palamas”
President, Professor Dr. Theodoros Mallias