Greece took centre stage at the opening ceremony of the 20th Mediterranean Games in Taranto, leading the parade of athletes at the packed Iacovone Stadium on Friday, August 21.
Team Hellas, comprising 277 athletes, entered the stadium with wrestling champion Maria Prevolaraki and European swimming silver medallist Apostolos Siskos carrying the Greek flag.
The two flag-bearers described the honour and responsibility of representing Greece at the Games.
“I would like to thank the Hellenic Olympic Committee for choosing Apostolos and me as flag-bearers,” Prevolaraki said. “It is a great honour. Walking into the stadium first will be a completely new experience, and I am really looking forward to it.”
Siskos also expressed his pride at carrying the Greek flag.
“I am particularly happy to be a flag-bearer. It is a great honour and joy, and every athlete dreams of carrying their country’s flag,” he said. “I will experience it to the fullest, and I think I will remember this moment for a very long time.”
Christou takes part in symbolic water ceremony
Another Greek swimmer, Olympic medallist Apostolos Christou, played a prominent role in the ceremony.
Christou joined Italian Olympic rowing champion Valentina Rodini in the symbolic ritual of transferring the Mediterranean Games water into a special urn. The ceremony carried strong references to the tradition surrounding the Olympic Flame.
“It is a special role and a great honour to have been chosen alongside an Olympic champion,” Christou said.
He described the ceremony as a memorable moment that formally marked the opening of the Mediterranean Games.
Christou also highlighted the presence of two Greek swimmers in prominent roles at the ceremony, calling it a hopeful and positive sign for the Greek swimming team.
Greek delegation receives support
Hellenic Olympic Committee President Isidoros Kouvelos watched from the stands as the Greek delegation entered the stadium.
Team Hellas delegation chief Antonis Nikolopoulos and deputy chiefs Theodoros Tsavdaridis and Dora Palli also took part in the opening of the Games.
Kouvelos attended alongside Spyros Capralos, an International Olympic Committee member and President of the European Olympic Committees, as well as Hellenic Olympic Committee members Kostis Liarrοmatis, Giannis Kapos, Michalis Fysentzidis and Thomas Tokas.
“Embrace the Future”
The ceremony adopted the central message “Embrace the Future” and focused on the future through the eyes of a child from Taranto.
The 20th Mediterranean Games officially opened with 3,804 athletes from 26 National Olympic Committees taking part.
The competition takes place across the Apulia region from August 21 to September 3.
