Participation records set to tumble at this year’s Aphrodite Cup which is due to take place at the Faliro Olympic Indoor Hall (aka Tae Kwon Do) between March 10-12.
The 8th Aphrodite Cup 2023 will feature 285 athletes coming from 35 countries and 5 continents beating all previous records participation-wise.
The event will be the ideal prelude to the FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup, which will follow next week (March 17-19) and will welcome some of the sports’ biggest stars.
Greece’s Group is poised to make their 2023 debut, the first act on the road to the pre-Olympic World Championship scheduled for next August, where they will vie for a 2024 Olympic Games berth.
The Greek Group line-up includes Eira Laura Gikoka, Elpida Egglezou, Kalomira Karoki, Irini Konisti, Christina Riga, Marietta Topollai. The team will present their brand-new routines in 5 Hoops and in 3 Ribbons & 2 Balls.
Greece will be represented as well by the junior’s national team (Eleftheria Kantere, Efstathia Kontopoulou, Irini Krali, Stefania Bakopoulou, Marianthi Simitzi, Katerina Holidi, substitute: Anna Petropoulou) who will compete with 5 Ropes and 5 Balls.
In the women’s individual event local fans will cheer for newcomers with the national colours, Izabela Saridou and Ioanna Liaskou. Panagiota Lytra and Maria Dervisi who topped the ranks at the national trials skipped the Aphrodite Cup to focus on the upcoming FIG World Cup.
In the junior individual competition, the Greek team will be represented by the eight gymnasts who excelled at the national trials: Ourania Sygkouna, Paraskevi Bilia, Eleni Tzouda, Anastasia Maria Kagkalou, Eleni Maria Moulakaki, Elisavet Manolopoulou, Maria Manatou, and Aggeliki Kanioura.
For the three days of action (March 10-12), organisers offer free admission.
The 8th International Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament Aphrodite Cup is organised by the Palaio Faliro Gymnastics Club Armonia, with co-organisers the Hellenic Gymnastics Federation and the Municipality of Palaio Faliro.
Institutional Supporters are the Region of Attica, OASA, STASY and ETAD S.A.
The Tournament is being held under the auspices of the General Secretariat of Sports, the General Secretariat of Demographic and Family Policy and Gender Equality and PSAT.
The event, supported by the environmental organisation Institute Team for the World Environmental Alliance 2004+, promotes the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations and is included in the B’ tier of the Green Sports League certification system.
This year’s Aphrodite Cup is supported as well by Kapola Dance Store, Hotel Coral, Athens Medical Center, Ticketmaster and Dole.
Media sponsors are ERT and ERA SPORT.