The Olympic Indoor Hall of Faliro, Athens, will be breathing rhythmic gymnastics this weekend, as the 4th “Aphrodite Cup” International Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament is about to lift its curtain.

The only Gymnastics event of the year which is held on Greek soil and forms part of the FIG annual calendar, will be celebrated from Friday, March 16th to Sunday, March 18th, gathering up in the Greek capital some 240 gymnasts from 21 countries.

“Aphrodite Cup”, which is organized by the GOPF Armonia gymnastics club, the Hellenic Gymnastics Federation and the Municipality of Paleo Faliro, has been established since 2015 as a celebration of woman’s role in sport, hailing the beauty of rhythmic gymnastics.

The 4th edition of the tournament is awaited with much interest for the Greek rhythmic gymnastics people, as the Greek national team will perform its new routines in the Group Competition. Guided by the experienced Bulgarian head coach Irina Ilieva and her assistant Eva Christodoulou, a bronze Olympic medalist in Sydney 2000 in the same discipline, the Greek Group has got quite some new faces this year: Three gymnasts who had competed in the 2017 FIG World Championships have remained in the group (Marianna Mandellou, Mirto Athanasoulaki, Zoi Ntitsiou), which has been completed with four new members (Ioanna Tziatzia, Dioni Diochnou, Avra Ntouro, Katerina Pozidou).

In Individual Competition, Katerina Dervisi who is starting her second season in women’s division, will represent the Hellenic Gymnastics Federation at Faliro, along with two recently promoted gymnasts, her younger sister Maria Dervisi and Eleanna Dimopoulou.

Mrs. Eleni Michopoulou, former member of the FIG Council (2009-2012) and founder of “Aphrodite Cup” as President of GOPF Armonia gymnastics club, commented on the forthcoming event: “We are happy to see that Aphrodite Cup has become an important date for the international rhythmic gymnastics community in just a few years. Once more, we are welcoming gymnasts from more than 20 countries and we hope that everybody will enjoy a unique experience here at the Athens Riviera”.

Mr. Athanasios Vasiliadis, President of the Hellenic Gymnastics Federation, also spoke about the importance of this tournament for the Federation: “As co-hosts of Aphrodite Cup, we are very pleased with its growth. It serves as a showcase for the sport of rhythmic gymnastics in Greece, but also for the attractions that our land has to offer to the visiting teams from abroad. I am certain that the organizers of this event will live up to the highest expectations once more”.

The tournament has also got a strong environmental and social character, as proven by the initiatives taken in cooperation with the local authorities and specialized organizations such as the environmental organization “Institute Team For The World”, including the used sport shoes and sportswear reuse / recycling program called “Let Them Walk Again For A Good Cause”,  the recycling program of paper, glass and plastic, the voluntary emissions offsetting program for the international flights of the participants, etc., which let “Aphrodite Cup” be certified under the scheme Green Sports League.
Also, the organizers of the tournament are committed in promoting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

“Following our environmental commitments, we minimize the environmental impact of the event, we ensure sustainability within local communities, we inform gymnasts and spectators regarding the environmental issues and ensure the minimum possible environmental footprint. In addition to all actions above, this year we are taking another initiative: Thanks to the support of the Municipality of Palaio Faliro, we will start a symbolic tree planting with the participation of gymnasts and coaches from all foreign delegations”, quoted mr. Giorgos Kazantzopoulos, President of the environmental organization “Institute Team For The World” and Vice-President of GOPF Armonia gymnastics club.

You can find more information about the 4th “Aphrodite Cup” on the tournament’s official website: aphroditecup.com