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Curtain Raised for ‘Santorini Experience’ 2017 Sports Tourism Event

Photo credit: Elias Lefas

Photo credit: Elias Lefas

The curtain has been raised for the “Santorini Experience” as the popular Greek island gears up for one of the country’s top sports tourism events. In its third year, the “Santorini Experience”, which includes running and swimming races, will take place on October 6-8 on Santorini, one of the most popular islands of the Cyclades. The event is co-organized by the Municipality of Santorini, DAPPOS and Active Media Group.

According to the organizers, “Santorini Experience” continues this year full of surprises.

Photo credit: Elias Lefas

Photo credit: Elias Lefas

The established meet & greet event will take place in Fira on Friday, October 6, at 12 noon at Alafouzos Sport, an official sponsor of “Santorini Experience”.

The event will be attended by the Greek-American ultramarathon runner Dean Karnazes, who will visit the island and the event for the first time and run in the 15km race. Everyone attending the meet & greet event will have the opportunity to get autographs from the runner who will also be signing his latest book “The Road to Sparta” by Key Books.

Registrations of the event have already broken previous records, according to the organizers and include top professional athletes, as well as many amateur swimmers and runners. Greek open water champion, Kelly Araouzou, who has participated in all the “Santorini Experience” events so far, will once again take part along with several members of the National Team, such as Antonis Fokaidis, Giorgos Arniakos and Dimitris Negris. For the first time in an open water race, more than 10 Greek swimming champions will participate.

Unique moments from the swimming route of Santorini Experience with a start from the volcano and end at the old port in Fira<br /> Photo © Elias Lefas

Photo credit: Elias Lefas

Another top athlete attending the event for the first time is the Hungarian swimmer Attila Manyoki.

The 44-year-old athlete in open water swimming, with a great number of successes on his belt, has been inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (IMSHOF). Manyoki has completed hundreds of marathon swimming races and has twice covered the 90km distance. In 2008, he swam 79.6km along Lake Balaton between Balatonkenese and Keszthely in 25 hours and 32 minutes.

Transportation

Photo credit: Elias Lefas

Photo credit: Elias Lefas

For the best service and transfer of the “Santorini Experience” participants to the starting points of the running routes on Saturday, October 7, in Oia and the swimming route on Sunday, October 8, at the old port of Fira, the organizers have announced the following bus services:

On Saturday, there will be two services by bus (from 06:30am and 08:30am) from Fira (Bus station) to Oia (desalination plant) that will serve the participants wishing to be at the starting point of the running routes. Accordingly, the return of the participants will take place on another route at 12:30am, from Oia to Fira.
In addition, those participating in the swimming event on Sunday and need a tranfer from Oia to the old port of Fira, will be served by the bus that will start from Passagio Santorini Oia at 08:30 in the morning. Please note that the transfer of swimmers to the volcano starts at 09:30, from the old port.

For the detailed schedule of the event, press here.

On the spot registration / Racing bib numbers

Online registrations for swimming and running have closed and on the spot registrations will only be made at the Alafouzos Sport store from Thursday, October 5. Also, all participants will be able to receive their racing bib numbers from Alafouzos Sport store Thursday to Saturday (hours: 09:00-21:00). Running participants may also receive their bib numbers one hour before the start of their route on Saturday from the desalination plant in Oia while swimming participants may receive theirs one hour before their start on Sunday from the old port in Fira.

Photo credit: Vangelis Patsialos

“All of the above would not have been managed if major sponsors had not stood on the side of “Santorini Experience”, since its first day,” the organizers said.

Ryanair is the official airline partner of “Santorini Experience” and VitaNTravel is the official travel agent. The official sponsors of the event include Blue Star Ferries, Alafouzos Sport and Athina Luxury Suites and Samsung is the official technology partner.

The “Santorini Experience” official supporters are Ford Motor Hellas, “Vikos” Natural Mineral Water, Avance Rent A Car, Aqua Vista Hotels, Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa, EKO, GoPro, Wyndham Grand Athens and the Santorini Boatmen Union.

Hospitality sponsors supporting the event include: Santorini Hoteliers Association, Meltemi Hotels & Resorts, Aqua Vista Hotels, Athina Luxury Suites, Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa, Aegean Plaza Hotel, Andronis Concept, Vedema A Luxury Collection Resort Santorini, Canaves Oia, West East Suites, Desiterra Luxury Suites & Villas, 270 Oia’s View, Central Fira Hotel, Memories Hotel, Loizos Stylish Residencies, Fanouris Condo, Monolithia Hotel, Esperas Santorini, Sienna Residencies, Hotel Rivari Santorini, White Pearl Villas, Caldera Collection.

The event is also assisted by the Sunset Oia Sailing Cruises, Alios Ilios, Assyrtico Wine Restaurant Café, the Lifeguard Patrol, the National Lifeguards of Santorini and the Aegean Divers.

“Santorini Experience” will take place under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization and the Hellenic Swimming Federation.

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