Running its 12th annual program, the Navarino Challenge brought 4,000 participants to a three-day event featuring sports, longevity, and gastronomy activities, held between October 18-20.
Amateurs and professional athletes of all ages and abilities took part in activities organised at several sites including Navarino Bay, the island of Sphacteria, two Natura 2000 sites; the Gialova Lagoon and the Voidokilia Beach, as well as Pylos, Chora, Methoni, and Koroni.
Participants trained side by side with major sports personalities, Olympians and Paralympians, Lefteris Petrounias, Pavlos Kagialis, Antigoni Ntrismpioti, Periklis Iakovakis, Dimitris Papanikolaou, Evina Maltsi and Grigoris Polychronidis.
Under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, the Greek National Tourism Organisation, and the Peloponnese Region, the event featured an award ceremony on Saturday night.
The family of two-time Olympic silver medalist in taekwondo late Alexandros Nikolaidis took presented the 2nd “Alexandros Nikolaidis” award, established by the Hellenic Olympic Committee and Navarino Challenge.
In the presence of Nikolaidis’ wife Dora Tsambazi, and their children, the award was given to the Olympian and two-time European champion in racewalking, Antigoni Ntrismpioti.
Among those honoured was Euro 2004 Legend Kostas Katsouranis Panagiotis Kotronaros, the climber who led the first Greek expedition to Everest, and Paralympic two-time gold medalist in the 100m T11, Nasos Ghavelas.
Running routes on Sunday ranged from a 21.1km half marathon – won by Alexandros Tzoumakas setting a new record – to smaller distance routes, running routes for children and the 1km “Run For All – All Unique, All Equal”.
All running events were co-organised with the Messiniakos Gymnastics Club and SEGAS Peloponnese, with more than 500 children from Messinia having joined the running feast.
Gastronomy was part of the schedule too, with attendees enjoying events like watching a live preparation of traditional galatopita (milk pie) by three local women.
Activities included a documentary screening, kayaking on the island of Sphacteria, educational seminars for school-aged children and environmental actions with volunteers from the Athens University of Economics and Business leading the cleaning of Gialova Beach.
Organisers stated proud that Navarino Challenge became the first event in Greece and the second in Europe to offer medals made from 100% recyclable materials.
