Medals from recycled materials for the first time
Athens, October 25, 2024 – This year’s top sports tourism and wellness event, Navarino Challenge, was held from October 18-20 and highlighted sports, wellness, longevity, and gastronomy. In its 12th year, the event gathered amateur and professional athletes of all ages and abilities to participate in 63 activities at Costa Navarino, in The Westin Resort Costa Navarino, W Costa Navarino, and the Municipality of Pylos-Nestor.
More than 4,000 participations in the 12th Navarino Challenge ranged in age from 1 month to 72 years, representing 28 countries from 4 continents, including among others USA, Canada, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, South Korea, Australia, UK, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy.
The event showcased through its 2024 activities Navarino Bay, the island of Sphacteria, the Gialova Lagoon, Voidokilia Beach (which are both part of Natura 2000 network), Niokastro, and Paleokastro, as well as Pylos, Chora, Methoni, and Koroni.
Sports Unites People
Navarino Challenge brought together amateurs and professionals who shared the value of fair play alongside Olympians. Participants trained side by side with major sports personalities, Olympians and Paralympians, including Lefteris Petrounias, Pavlos Kagialis, Antigoni Ntrismpioti, Periklis Iakovakis, Dimitris Papanikolaou, Evina Maltsi, Grigoris Polychronidis, Nasos Ghavelas champions including Vasiliki Millousi, Kostas Katsouranis, Joe Arlauckas, they met great athletes such as Konstantine “Dean” Karnazes, Michalis Triantafyllidis, Liza Triantafyllidi, Stavros Triantafyllidis, Mike Styllas, Panagiotis Kotronaros, George Dimoulas, Alexandros Tzoumakas, Georgia Kaltsi, Giorgos Lazaridis, Jo Manta while trained and led into the secrets of their activities from Georgios Chatziefstathiou, Antonis Tantalidis, Dimitris Moros, Mandy Persaki, Valia Moralis, Aggelos Giakoumidis and Efi Chatzigeorgaki.
A Night Full of Emotions
On Saturday evening, the awards ceremony was held, honoring athletes distinguished for their ethos, passion, and contribution to sports and society. The event was hosted by presenter George Lentzas, who first gave the floor to Chief Executive Officer of ActiveMedia Group and co-organizer, Mr. Akis Tsolis. During the awards ceremony:
• Two years after the passing of two-time Olympic silver medalist in taekwondo Alexandros Nikolaidis, the event, along with his family, presented the 2nd “Alexandros Nikolaidis” award, established by the Hellenic Olympic Committee and Navarino Challenge. In the presence of his wife Dora Tsambazi, and their children, the award was given to the Olympian and two-time European champion in racewalking, Antigoni Ntrismpioti, who stands out for her ethics and serves as a role model for young people. The event was also attended by the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Mr. Spyros Capralos, who spoke about Alexandros.
• Holders of 7 Paralympic medals in boccia, Grigoris Polychronidis and Katerina Patroni, along with their daughter, were honored by Ms. Mary Karageorgou, External Affairs Director of Novo Nordisk Hellas, for promoting sports as a family role model.
• The distinguished climber who led the first Greek expedition to Everest 20 years ago, Mike Styllas, was awarded by The North Face’s Country Manager, Mr. Elias Kanakis.
• Olympian and two-time European champion Dimitris Papanikolaou was awarded by Ms. Maira Passia, Group Corporate Communications & Sustainability Director of MOTODYNAMICS Group, and Mr. Antonios Markoutsas, Business Development Manager of SIXT Greece. Dimitris Papanikolaou captivated the audience with his speech on inclusion, inviting his daughter Aria on stage.
• The European champion and Euro 2004 Legend Kostas Katsouranis was honored by Mr. Thanos Kyriazis, Managing Director of Miele Hellas.
• The legend of Greek climbing who led the first Greek expedition to Everest, Panagiotis Kotronaros, was honored by Mr. Ilias Liberis, Brand and Media Manager of Vikos S.A.
• Olympic bronze medalist in sailing Pavlos Kagialis was awarded by Ms. Maira Passia, Group Corporate Communications & Sustainability Director of MOTODYNAMICS Group
• Olympic gold and two-time bronze medalist Lefteris Petrounias was awarded by Mr. Giorgos Panageas, Facilities Management Director of TEMES.
• Finally, Paralympic two-time gold medalist in the 100m T11, Nasos Ghavelas, a continuator of the Olympian Kostis Tsiklitiras, who hails from Pylos, was honored by the Mayor of Pylos-Nestor, Mr. Panagiotis Karvelas. Nasos Ghavelas spoke with great strength about his races and how he envisioned them during training, inspiring everyone to continue pursuing their dreams in life.
On Sunday, October 20, participants in Navarino Challenge had the opportunity to take part in the following running routes:
• The 21.1 km route powered by The North Face, crossing Voidokilia Beach and the Gialova Lagoon, along with the Greek-American ambassador of Greek tourism, Konstantine “Dean” Karnazes. The winner of the Half Marathon was The North Face athlete Alexandros Tzoumakas who set a new record for the route with 01:18’:24’’.
• The 10 km route by the sea.
• The 5 km route powered by Miele through olive trees.
• The 1 km route for children aged 0 to 9, powered by Vikos.
• The 1 km route for children aged 10 to 14.
• The 1 km “Run For All – All Unique, All Equal” powered by the MOTODYNAMICS Group, with the strong participation of Kalamata association “DiaforoZO”, as well as athletes Antigoni Ntrismpioti, Grigoris Polychronidis, Nasos Ghavelas, Giorgos Lazaridis, Georgia Kaltsi, George Lentzas, and Georgia Paraschou. During the route, presenter George Lentzas blindfolded himself and ran with his guide, Humanity Greece founder Georgia Paraschou, in an effort to experience the feat and extraordinary effort of Nasos Ghavelas, who ran with Antigoni Ntrismpioti as his guide.
In the 1 km route, more than 500 children from Messinia and the dynamic presence of Messiniakos Gymnastic Club stood out.
See the running event results here: https://www.navarinochallenge.com/results-2024
Gastronomy at Miele Open House
As the Platinum Sponsor of the event, Miele celebrated 125 years of dynamic success by connecting wellness with longevity and offering a range of gastronomic experiences at the innovative Miele Open House they created:
• Participants had the opportunity to take part in two Stratos Drakoulis Masterclasses powered by Miele. For the first time at Navarino Challenge, attendees enjoyed unique cuts of Kobe Beef and Wagyu on Miele’s high-quality appliances, tasting pasta shells stuffed with Kobe beef mince and black Wagyu brioche. All proceeds from the Masterclasses were donated through “Sharing Is Caring” charity initiative to support non-profit organizations.
• Miele’s Chef Alexandros Syngkiridis prepared the iconic Thessaloniki bagel and created the pasta corner.
• People experienced the traditional and authentic Messinian culinary experience by watching the preparation of traditional galatopita (milk pie) by three local women.
• Lastly, a Wine Tasting of Sponsors powered by Miele, was organized with the support of Alpha Estate and its Brand Ambassador, Menelaos Mourelatos.
At the registration area at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino, where the awards ceremony took place, visitors had the chance to admire the unique booths of SportAdore, the exclusive distributor of Luanvi in Greece, and Kois Optics. Similarly, at the innovative Miele Open House, high-quality devices featuring advanced technology and premium design were showcased. Guests were impressed by the innovative wine cooler, which preserves wines at the ideal temperature and complements any interior space and décor.
During the awards ceremony, attendees were served at two Bombay Sapphire bars, sampled fine wine varieties from Alpha Estate using Miele’s wine cooler, and stayed hydrated with Vikos Natural Mineral Water. Miele offered a unique experience at Navarino Challenge, with guests actively participating in its photo booth, a fun activity for everyone that helped keep their memories alive.
The schedule also featured side activities, including:
• A screening of the documentary “The Secrets of Olympus” with Mike Styllas.
Education & Activities in the Municipality of Pylos-Nestor
Unique historical sites in the Municipality of Pylos-Nestor were highlighted through the following activities:
• Navarino Bay Challenge (Rappelling) powered by The North Face took place for the first time on the island of Sphacteria, in the Bay of Navarino, led by the experienced Navarino Outdoors team. This event was supported by top mountaineer, climber and The North Face ambassador, Panagiotis Kotronaros, who led the National Mountaineering Team during the first successful ascent of a Greek expedition to Mount Everest. All participants were transported to Sphacteria with comfort and safety aboard the premium vessels of Elite Boats.
• Kayaking on the island of Sphacteria powered by YAMAHA, part of the MOTODYNAMICS Group, with the support of Moraitis Watersports.
• 2km walk powered by Novo Nordisk from the house of Olympian Kostis Tsiklitiras to Niokastro, with participants enjoying the sunset at Tsichli Baba and the island of Sphacteria.
• Skateboarding supported by the dynamic Free Movement Skateboarding team, a “family” that always brings joy and helps you get up when you fall, took place in Pylos, Koroni, and Chora.
The three-day series of events concluded on Sunday, October 20, in the Municipality of Pylos-Nestor with:
• The historical reenactment of the Battle of Navarino, known as “Navarinia” with crowds filling the streets of Pylos.
Navarino Challenge, in collaboration with the Municipality of Pylos-Nestor and the MOTODYNAMICS Group, organized a series of educational activities:
• Diversity Workshop powered by MOTODYNAMICS Group, featuring former international basketball player and European champion, MOTODYNAMICS ambassador Dimitris Papanikolaou. The workshop was held for elementary, middle, and high school students of the Municipality of Pylos-Nestor.
• Road Safety Seminar titled “Drive Change Move Safe” led by motorsports coach Thanasis Chountras, for high school students from Pylos and Methoni.
• Book Donation to Tsiklitiras House: Through the Library4All organization, the library at Tsiklitiras House in Pylos was enriched. Attendees were encouraged to donate a book in good condition, and MOTODYNAMICS Group committed to donating the same number of new books to Library4All. The Open Library initiative took place at Tsiklitiras House, with the presence of the Mayor of Pylos-Nestor Panagiotis Karvelas, educator and founding member of Library4All Eleni Geroulanou, and MOTODYNAMICS ambassador Dimitris Papanikolaou, collecting over 70 books.
Moreover an:
• Awareness and Information Session on childhood, adolescent, and adult obesity powered by Novo Nordisk, was organized with participation from Novo Nordisk Hellas External Affairs Director Mary Karageorgou, endocrinologist-diabetologist Dr. Spyros Sapounas (vice-president of the National Organization for Medicines [EOF] and former vice-president of the Hellenic National Public Health Organization [EODY]), nutritionist-dietician Aspasia Tsoka, and ultramarathon runner Joe Manta, the first Greek woman to finish the Spartathlon this year (246km).
Environmental Actions – First Event with Medals Made from Recyclable Materials
The following environmental initiatives were part of the event:
• In a world where environmental sustainability is more critical than ever, Navarino Challenge, with the help of Team Recycle, took significant steps to transform plastic waste into something truly valuable: medals for participants. Navarino Challenge became the first event in Greece and the second in Europe to offer medals made from 100% recyclable materials to participants in the 21.1km, 10km, and 5km races. Our mission was simple: to create beautiful, durable medals from high-density recycled plastic (HDPE) collected from homes and schools. By repurposing these materials instead of sending them to landfills, we transformed potential waste into symbols of achievement and resilience. Each medal tells a story—not only of the participant’s hard work and success but also of our shared commitment to a more sustainable future.
• During the awards ceremony, Miele held a contest for a premium Miele coffee machine. Participants were given an original bracelet made from seed paper. This bracelet didn’t need to be thrown away; when planted in soil, the paper biodegrades, releasing the seeds into the earth, where they bloom.
• The cleaning of Gialova Beach, powered by the MOTODYNAMICS Cleaning Team, with the participation of athletes, ambassadors, and executives of the MOTODYNAMICS Group, in collaboration with Moraitis Watersports and volunteers from the Athens University of Economics and Business.
• The cleaning of the running routes by the team of the event’s Sustainability Partner, p³=Plastic Pollution Prevention.
• All packaging used during the running events was recycled.
• Recyclable material bags were provided to participants.
Navarino Challenge for the Community
As part of this year’s event, the MOTODYNAMICS Group donated multifunctional devices and computers to the Municipality of Pylos-Nestor. Similarly, Navarino Challenge donated sports equipment to the Municipality of Pylos-Nestor and products not used in the event to the non-profit organization Humanity Greece.
Additionally, the annual charity initiative “Sharing is Caring” kicked off this weekend at the registration area at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino. Visitors had the opportunity to admire Trace ‘n Chase’s exhibition items, which contribute to the auctions for the good cause of “Sharing is Caring”. Thanks to the Sports Memorabilia Partner, Trace ‘n Chase, the first 5,500 euros has already been raised, which will be distributed equally to the non-profit organizations supported by the event this year. The charity auction will continue online on the event’s website in the coming weeks.
Gifts for Participants
Navarino Challenge is known for offering the most generous participant packages and gifts. Those who completed the Half Marathon powered by The North Face received a premium The North Face thermos as a gift. Similarly, those who finished the 5km race powered by Miele were awarded a unique Miele thermos.
All participants received the official technical T-shirt of the event, designed by the top apparel company Luanvi. The shirt features an olive tree design, a sacred symbol of growth, fertility, and renewal, representing prosperity, abundance, positive energy, and good fortune.
In addition to the t-shirt, all participants were gifted a Luanvi bag, products from Knorr, KORRES, Navarino Icons, Messinian Spa, and Vlaha, along with a free pet insurance policy courtesy of wedo.insure, the Official Insurance Partner of the event. Vikos, a brand known for supporting sports events that promote fair play and competition, served as the Official Water, providing Vikos natural mineral water and Vikos mineral-based soft drinks.
Basketball participants played with the event’s Official Basketball Wilson, and both basketball and football players received collectible gifts from Trace ‘n Chase.
Selected guests of the event received gifts from the company Silk Gonos.
During the three days, participants took advantage of the offer of hoper, the company that has brought scheduled helicopter flights to Greece and participated for the first time as the Official Helicopter Partner of Navarino Challenge. hoper rewrites the rules of transportation in Greece, bringing destinations closer than ever. As part of this year’s event, the innovative company held a unique competition to gift a free flight to one lucky person who would choose to fly over Tzia, Sifnos or Tinos. At the same time, selected guests of the organization had the pleasure of living the comfort and exceptional experience of flying with hopper to and from Navarino Challenge.
The value of volunteering
The volunteers of Athens University of Economics and Business offered extreme support to the cleaning of Gialova beach but also to the running activities, where they encouraged the runners and assisted at the water stations. The organization could not have been implemented without the exceptional contribution of the dynamic team of Humanity Greece who supported the registration services of the running races with human resources. The Athens Medical Group supported the running activities as a Medical Partner, while the contribution of the Hellenic Rescue Team – Messinia Prefecture Branch, who helped in the running races of Navarino Challenge, was of key importance.
Survey on Greek sports tourism
The event is conducting a survey on the impact of sports tourism for yet another year in collaboration with Deree – The American College of Greece, the findings of which will be presented in the coming months.
Athletes and ambassadors of the event moved safely, with the renewed car fleet of SIXT, a member of the MOTODYNAMICS Group and Premium Mobility Partner of the Navarino Challenge 2024. At Costa Navarino, participants had the opportunity to admire the new purely electric Porsche Macan recently revealed for the first time by MOTODYNAMICS Group.
All transfers of products and equipment were made with the safety of Pilia Express, while several participants were transferred by Messinia Transfer of Dimitris Lappas.
Platinum Sponsor: Miele
Gold Sponsor: MOTODYNAMICS Group
Official Hospitality Sponsors: Costa Navarino, W Costa Navarino, The Westin Resort Costa Navarino
Silver Sponsors: Knorr, The North Face
Strategic Healthcare Sponsor: Novo Nordisk
Official Water: Vikos Natural Mineral Water
Official Helicopter Partner: hoper
Official Sports Supplier: Luanvi
Bronze Sponsors: KORRES, Trace ‘n Chase, Pilia Express
Premium Mobility Partner: SIXT, member of the MOTODYNAMICS Group
Authentic Flavor Partner: Navarino Icons
Navarino Challenge Partners: Messinian Nest, Pylos-Nestor Municipality, Bombay Sapphire, Poseidonia Restaurant, Karalis Beach Hotel, Karalis City Hotel & Spa
Official Optics Partner: Kois Optics
Official Insurance Partner: wedo.insure
Supporters: Alpha Estate, Vlaha, Messinian Spa, Elite Boats, Zoe Resort, Silk Gonos
Premium TV Partner: SKAI
Premium Media Partner: Liquid Media
Medical Partner: Athens Medical Group
Sustainability Partner: π³ = Plastic Pollution Prevention
Educational Partner: Athens University of Economics and Business
Official Basketball: Wilson
Assisted by: Vita N Travel, Pylos Tourist Development Association, Lacoste, Rania’s Flower, Messinia Transfer, Humanity Greece
Athletic Partners: Angelic Yoga Arts, F45 Barrio Salamanca, Falcons Football Academy, FitnessArt, Free Movement Skateboarding, Gymnastics Stars, Joint Athens, Moraitis Watersports, Mouratoglou Tennis Center Costa Navarino, Navarino Golf Academy, Navarino Outdoors, Pilates by Mandy, Red Swim Academy, Swim O’ Clock, Triantafyllidis Beach Arena
Navarino Challenge was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, the Greek National Tourism Organization, and the Peloponnese Region. All running events were co-organized with the Messiniakos Gymnastics Club and SEGAS Peloponnese. The organization and sports production was managed by ActiveMedia Group.
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