GOLD COAST, October 2026 \u2014 Gold Coast and Ancient Olympia mayors signed a sister city reaffirmation at the Gold Coast Council Chambers on Friday, renewing ties between the two cities ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.<\/strong><\/p>\n Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate and the Mayor of Ancient Olympia, Aristeidis Panagiotopoulos, signed the Reaffirmation Declaration before the Honorary Consul-General of Greece in Queensland, George D. Mastrocostas, and invited guests.<\/p>\n The sister city reaffirmation followed the historic Sister City ceremony in Ancient Olympia, in the western Peloponnese, on 8 September 2026.<\/p>\n Because Queensland will host the 2032 Games, organisers said the sister city reaffirmation strengthens the symbolic connection between the birthplace of the Olympic ideal and the state preparing to welcome the world.<\/p>\n Read more: Ancient Olympia and Australia\u2019s Gold Coast Become\u00a0Sister Cities<\/p>\n Tate welcomed Panagiotopoulos and the Ancient Olympia delegation to the city for the sister city reaffirmation.<\/p>\n \u201cI am pleased to welcome Mayor Aristeidis Panagiotopoulos to our city to celebrate and reaffirm this important partnership and enduring connection between us,\u201d Mayor Tom Tate said.<\/p>\n Tate said the relationship would support cooperation across many fields.<\/p>\n \u201cA Sister City relationship is a mutual understanding and shared commitment to international cooperation. It gives both the Gold Coast and Ancient Olympia the chance to share ideas in developing education, youth engagement, sport, culture, tourism, heritage and sustainability. This is particularly important in the lead up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.\u201d<\/p>\n Tom Tate<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u201cThe visit brings the partnership full circle, with our two cities reaffirming their friendship here on the Gold Coast today,\u201d Tate said. \u201cPeople-to-people connections will be at the heart of the relationship where we can learn from each other.\u201d<\/p>\n At the ceremony, Mastrocostas, who played a central role in the partnership, spoke of uniting the country of his heritage with the city he now calls home.<\/p>\n \u201cIn September, I stood on the sacred ground of Ancient Olympia and spoke with immense pride of what Greece had given to the world.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, I stand here, on the Gold Coast, and I feel something perhaps even more profound.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause Greece is part of my soul. It is my heritage, my faith, my language, and the memory of generations who came before me.<\/p>\n George D. Mastrocostas<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u201cBut the Gold Coast is my home,\u201d Mastrocostas said.<\/p>\n Mastrocostas also reflected on the Greek migrants who built new lives in Australia while keeping their language, faith, traditions and identity.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that is the extraordinary gift of this country. We were never required to stop loving where we came from in order to love the place we now call home,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n![\"Gold](\"https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/tom-tate-aristeidis-panagiotopoulos-sign-reaffirmation-01.webp)
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Sister city reaffirmation ceremony<\/h3>\n
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