Greece’s Authentic Marathon Swim Event Awarded for Successful Organization

Impressive footage of the swimming races at Pefki, of the Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos (photo by Elias Lefas @ Authentic Marathon Swim)

The Authentic Marathon Swim event has won a total of five accolades
at the Tourism Awards 2021, for last year’s successful race.

This article is brought to you by ActiveMedia Group

The Authentic Marathon Swim is approaching and expects to gather participations of amateur and professional swimmers from Greece and abroad for the 2nd consecutive year, on July 2-4, 2021, at Pefki, Evia of the Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos. 

The absolutely successful organization of the Authentic Marathon Swim last year, led the event to the top of the Tourism Awards with 5 awards in total.

More specifically, it was distinguished with 2 Silver awards for the strategy implemented for the “Guest – Staff Protection” during the Covid-19 pandemic and its “Integrated Communications Campaign” while receiving 3 Bronze awards at the “Sports Tourism”, “Interconnection of tourism with other sectors of the Greek economy” and “Technology enhanced experience” categories for the technology solutions used to improve the travel experience.

In the context of presenting this year’s event activities, statements were made by the Mayor of Istiea-Edipsos, Mr. Ioannis Kontzias, the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Harry Theoharis, the Deputy Minister of Culture & Sports, Mr. Lefteris Avgenakis, the Governor of Central Greece Region, Mr. Fanis Spanos, the President of the Greek National Tourism Organization, Mrs. Angela Gerekou, the President of the Hellenic Swimming Federation, Mr. Kyriakos Giannopoulos, the Hungarian holder of the Oceans Seven and member of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, Attila Manyoki and the open water masters world champion, Vicky Kouveli.   

On behalf of the organization, the Mayor of Istiea-Edipsos, Mr. Ioannis Kontzias stated: “The Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos, believing that its main priority is the promotion of its cultural and historical heritage, continues with more enthusiasm to organize, for the 2nd year, the Authentic Marathon Swim. This year, on July 2-4, we are waiting for you all to swim over the shipwrecks of the naval battle of Artemision. Sports tourism is an industry that is highly developed and covers 20% of the total tourist traffic. With a set of events throughout the territory of our Municipality, we aim to make sports tourism one of the main pillars of our tourism product”. 

A statement was sent by the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Harry Theoharis, in which he stated, among other things: “Tourism in Greece is indissolubly linked to culture and sports. The country that gave birth to the Olympic Games and the ancient Greek culture, offers visitors an unparalleled advantage of tourism experience, safety, and culture. In this context, the great sports tourism organization of the “Authentic Marathon Swim” can offer international recognition and increase of tourist traffic in the Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos and throughout our country. Such a sports – but at the same time tourism and cultural – event, contributes to the promotion and expansion of the level of services offered to tourists-consumers who visit our country. I would like to express my warm congratulations to the organizers and the participants for organizing such a great sports event, especially at such a difficult time due to the global pandemic. A few days ago, Greek tourism “opened its sails” for its restart. And such events as yours, contribute to the promotion, but mainly to the successful attempt to return to normalcy; to take our lives back again”. 

Deputy Minister of Culture & Sports, Mr. Lefteris Avgenakis, with the Mayor of Istiea-Edipsos (photo by Mike Tsolis @ Authentic Marathon Swim)

Respectively, the Deputy Minister of Culture & Sports, Mr. Lefteris Avgenakis stressed, among other things: “I congratulate you for your excellent initiative, which revives the institution of the authentic marathon swim. An example that highlights the great contribution of sports as well as the development potential of Municipalities and the crucial role of local government in local, social, and cultural development. The institution of the Authentic Marathon Swim, through the revival of the authentic marathon swimming route of Skyllias and his daughter Hydna is an excellent example”.

The Governor of Central Greece Region, Mr. Fanis Spanos stated among others: “With great joy and with even greater anticipation we welcome the Authentic Marathon Swim at Pefki in Evia, for the 2nd consecutive year, in memory of the legendary Skyllias and his daughter Hydna. A special action that combines sports, history, and our culture. An action that was inspired and initiated by the Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos and its Mayor, Ioannis Kontzias and which we supported last year and continue to support this year with great satisfaction and positivity. I wish good luck to the event and strength to our swimmers. They will need it because marathon races are very demanding. And of course, a wish and a commitment. To always support with all our forces the actions that promote everything beautiful that our place has and to make it more attractive”.

The President of the Greek National Tourism Organization, Mrs. Angela Gerekou highlighted: “It is with great pleasure that the Greek National Tourism Organization welcomes and supports the 2nd Authentic Marathon Swim, which depicts the revival of the authentic, historic marathon route after 2,500 years. Participants in this event are great athletes from around the world who swim over the shipwrecks of the historic naval battle of Artemision. Greek National Tourism Organization supports and promotes successful events like these, because it firmly believes in the dynamics of sports, cultural, historical tourism which is a necessary component of experiential tourism”.

The President of the Hellenic Swimming Federation, Mr. Kyriakos Giannopoulos, sent a greeting to the event, in which, he stressed among other things: “With a great joy and pleasure, I greet as President of the Hellenic Swimming Federation and on behalf of its Board of Directors the Authentic Marathon Swim that takes place on July 2-4 at Pefki, Evia. The event, which essentially revives 2,500 years later, the authentic marathon route followed by Skyllias and his daughter Hydna, in the historic naval battle of Artemision in 480 B.C., is a lighthouse of our cultural and natural wealth for the participants, among others, who thus become a part of history in the place where marathon swimming was actually born. The initiative of the Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos and the specifications that are set for the achievement of excellent races’ results, are the desideratum for us at the Hellenic Swimming Federation, which also aims at the development of sports tourism in Greece. With absolute safety and always harmonized with the rules of the Federation, the General Secretariat of Sports and the National Public Health Organization, I wish you the best”.

In addition, the Hungarian swimmer Attila Manyoki, who will take part in the event, also highlighted: “I would like to thank the event for the invitation. I am very happy to take part in the Authentic Marathon Swim. It will be impressive to swim the 10km above the shipwrecks of the naval battle of Artemision. I am sure that my visit to Pefki will be a fantastic and unforgettable experience”.

Open water masters world champion, Vicky Kouveli (photo by Dimitris Andritsos Photography @ Authentic Marathon Swim)

Finally, the open water masters world champion, Vicky Kouveli stated about her participation this year: “The Authentic Marathon Swim, from its first time last year, is really in our hearts. Both because the organization was impeccable, at the very beautiful natural landscape in which the race took place and the fact that it is inspired by a historical event. The battle of Artemision. Worthily, it claims a place in the annual calendar of marathon swimmers and is an attraction for sports tourism. This year too I will participate and finish like a modern Hydna. I will be waiting to meet you there and swim together”.

Register now for the races & acquire the richest participation kits

Participants will swim with safety in the impressive 10km route (over the shipwrecks of the Naval Battle of Artemision that took place in 480 B.C.), the 3km, the 1.5km as well as the new and unique 5km route. Respectively, the younger fans of the sea will have the opportunity to test their swimming skills in the 800m children’s race. The 5km, 3km, 1.5km and 800m. routes will have Pefki beach as their starting and finishing point. Registration for the 800m children’s race is free. The event also offers a special discount on group registrations of more than 10 people. All citizens of Istiea-Edipsos will have the opportunity to take part in the 5km, 3km and 1.5km routes as well as the 800m. children’s race, completely free of charge.

Register now here.

Impressive footage of the swimming races at Pefki, of the Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos (photo by Angelos Zymaras @ Authentic Marathon Swim)

Accommodation packages at the Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos

The Authentic Marathon Swim already collaborates with more than 35 hotels in the region, with the aim of revitalizing the sports tourism industry of Northern Evia and strengthening the Greek tourism product. Up to this point, this year’s event is enormously supported with special prices starting from 40 euros, by the following hospitality sponsors: Maria Louiza Apartments, Altamar Hotel, Villa Anastasia, Ellaeon Throesma, Kochili Apartments, Pefki Seascape Rooms, Hydna Studios, Aktaion Hotel, Arethousa Hotel, Galini Hotel Edipsos, Island, Ilios Studios, Irene Studios, Meliti Studios, Mirtia Hotel, Prigkipessa Studios, Aenaon Studios, Aidipsos Hotel, Alex Spa Hotel, Anesis, Apolonio, Artemis Rooms Pefki, Artemision Hotel, Asimina Rooms, Avli, Evia Dream, Kerasiotis Apartments, Konstantinos Hotel, Lito Hotel, Maria Studios, Melikari Studios, Oversea Rooms & Villas, Posidonio Studios, Rodon Hotel, Sunset Pefki, Thalassa Hotel, Viki Studios.

You may check the special accommodation packages here.

NP Insurance and Philosofish are the event’s Official Sponsors.
Natural Mineral Water Vikos is the Official Water.
Luanvi is the event’s Official Clothing Partner.
Avance is the Official Car Rental Partner.
Target Security is the Security Partner.
Schoretsanitis Cheese Factory, Nivea Sun, Syconia and The Norman Farm are the event’s Partners.

Red Swim Academy, Swim Academy, Leandros, Swimmingclub.gr, LA Elite Fitness, APS TRIAS and Kallithea Open Water Team are the Authentic Marathon Swim’s Athletic Partners. 

The event will be held in accordance with FINA regulations and the health protocol approved by the Greek General Secretariat of Sports’ Health Scientific Committee and established by the experienced team of ActiveMedia Group, in order to ensure the health of athletes and attendees.      

The Authentic Marathon Swim will be held with the permission of the General Directorate of Tourism Policy of the Regional Tourism Service of Central Greece, under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization. The event is co-organized by the Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos, the Region of Central Greece, the Organization of Cultural Development for Central Greece (O.P.A.S.T.E.), the Central Union of Municipalities in Greece (KEDE) and the Regional Union of Municipalities of Central Greece. ActiveMedia Group is responsible for its sports production. The race has joined the swimming community of Global Swim Series (GSS).

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