Qatar Airways Offers Fares Discount to ‘Navarino Challenge’ Participants

Qatar Airways is offering a special promotion to all passengers travelling to Greece who are participating in the sports tourism event “Navarino Challenge” which takes place on September 9-11 in Messinia and Costa Navarino in the Peloponnese.

The official airline partner of the event, with one of the youngest aircraft fleets in the world, will offer a discount up to 25% off fares of its new flights from Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta in the United States and the direct flights from Sydney and Adelaide in Australia. The significant discount in the cost of airline tickets is surely an additional incentive for the arrival of visitors from these countries but also from all countries where the global network of the company operates.

To book the exclusive offer, press here and include the promo code ATHNAVCH6. The offer is valid from August 30 to September 11 for outbound and inbound flights to be completed on or before September 21.

“Navarino Challenge 2016”

“Navarino Challenge”, organized by Active Media Group, returns for the fourth consecutive year in Messinia and Costa Navarino in September, with more than 18 sports activities. Τhe three-day “Navarino Challenge” event aims to raise awareness of the fight against childhood obesity through the Messinian diet and physical exercise.

The activity of running, which will once again see the participation of the Greek-American ultramarathon runner Dean Karnazes, has returned this year with renewed routes.

Running in Voidokilia. Photo credit: Vladimir Rys

On Sunday, September 11, runners starting from Navarino Dunes in Costa Navarino will participate in a non-competitive running event to Pylos beach, crossing Voidokilia beach for the first time and following the trail that has been mapped out — back in Homer’s years — by Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, who was trying to find his missing father. According to the Homeric tradition, when the son of Odysseus arrived on the beach on a ship, the goddess Athena was with him disguised as a mentor. On their way, runners will discover the mythical Voidokilia, the most famous beach in Messinia — with its unique shape that outlines the letter Omega of the Greek alphabet, written as “Ω”.

This year’s Half Marathon (21.1 km) and 10 km running routes will start at 08:15 in the morning while the 5km route (for running and dynamic walking) will start at 08:30. Similarly, the 1 km route designed for children will begin at 09:30 in the morning. The start and finish points are common. This year, the routes have been planned out by the former marathon runner, holder of national best performance on the classical route, running coach and director of All About Running, Nikos Polias. A detailed description of the routes including maps and technical details (altitude) is available here.

“Navarino Challenge” innovates and presents for the first time the Kids’ Athletics activity, with its ambassador, the Olympic and World Champion in 400m. hurdles, Periklis Iakovakis. This is an activity that aims to introduce children with the track and field sports and has been developed and established by a special panel of experts from IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federation). In Greece, the activity is officially implemented by the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS) in cooperation with the Ministry of Education. The Kids’ Athletics event includes the activity of standing long jump, the sport of the world famous Olympic champion and legendary Kostis Tsiklitiras, who was born in Pylos Messinia, which will be presented on Saturday, September 10, in the central Square of Pylos, and on Sunday, September 11, in Costa Navarino.

Speaking about his participation, Periklis Iakovakis said: “I invite all our little friends at the Kids’ Athletics program of Navarino Challenge to get to know the various sports of athletics. Through a program lasting about one hour, we will do jumps, throws, sprints and relay! But above all we will have a good time and have fun. Join us now and we will be expecting you for a wonderful weekend full of sports”.

For those wishing to stay at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino and enjoy the full schedule of the “Navarino Challenge” event, special-priced accommodation packages are available. For further information contact the event’s official travel agent Vita N Travel. Telephone: +30 210 3249070 or press here.

Registrations for “Navarino Challenge” are open and anyone can take part in the activities of running, swimming and SUP by filling out the special form available here.

The event is once again held under the Auspices of the Department of Nutrition and-Dietetics of Harokopio University of Athens with the support of Costa Navarino and The Westin Resort Costa Navarino, as well as the Municipalities of Pylos-Nestor and Trifilia.

For more information about the event, organizers can be contacted here.

Official Sponsors: Allianz Greece, “Vikos” Natural Mineral Water
Official Airline Partner: Qatar Airways
Official Supporters: BIC®, BIC® Sport, Navarino Icons, Village Cinemas
Assisted by: Health Runners Club of Messinia, Pylos Association of Enterprises for Tourism Development, Maritime Athletic Pylos Association “Nestor”, Explore Messinia, Navarino Outdoors, Swim Academy, Aqua Divers Club, Scuba Hellas, Navarino Golf Academy, Restaurant Posidonia Restaurant ThaMa, Alpha (Athlima SA), Department of Sports Organization & Management from University of Peloponnese, Anazoe Spa Costa Navarino, 1morekm, Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS), IAAF Kids Athletics, Apia, Inbi
Official Travel Agent: Vita N Travel
Official Broadcaster: OTE TV
TV Communication Partner: National Geographic Channel

GTP is a Strategic Communication Partner of the “Navarino Challenge” event.