Thousands register for multi-sports weekend of Sailing, Golf, Running and Football tournaments.
A total of 2,500 shipping executives are expected to participate at the 2018 Posidonia Games, a series of four popular sporting events to be held at different venues across Athens, a few days before the opening of the Posidonia 2018 exhibition, the world’s most prestigious shipping event.
On Friday June 1st, some 600 yachtsmen will sail their yachts from the azure waters of Faliron Bay in the picturesque Athens waterfront for the Posidonia Cup regatta; on Sunday June 3rd, a total of 1,500 runners will crowd at the starting point of the Piraeus Municipal Theatre for the 5km Posidonia Running Event along the busy streets of Piraeus; on the same day a further 100 will swing their drivers at the serene green tees of the Glyfada Golf Club for the 18-hole, shotgun Posidonia Golf Tournament; and also on the same day, 280 soccer fanatics will kick off the five-a-side Posidonia Shipsoccer Tournament.
Participants will represent a total of over 150 maritime corporate teams who will compete for trophies, medals or just the joy of participation in an international sports event, prior to a busy week of business, networking and deal signing ceremonies at the Posidonia exhibition from June 4 to 8 at the Athens Metropolitan Expo.
“Every two years, the Posidonia Games bring together shipping industry professionals from all over the world giving them the chance to test their stamina, hone their skills and build a stronger team spirit while practicing their favourite sport,” said Theodore Vokos, Executive Director, Posidonia Exhibitions S.A., the organiser of the Posidonia Games and the Posidonia Exhibition.
“Posidonia Games’ participants also have the opportunity to network with potential clients when competing for trophies and during the award-giving ceremonies organised for each event. Posidonia Games sponsors get great brand visibility amongst key target audiences from the global shipping community and the hospitality, catering, events and transportations sectors in Athens benefit from the additional revenues.”
Revenues generated from the events go to a good cause and support the educational and humanitarian efforts of associated organisations and NGOs. A beneficiary of the Posidonia Games is the Public Benefit Municipal Corporation of Piraeus, as the proceeds from the participation fees of the Posidonia Running Event will be used to support their work. Proceeds from the Posidonia Cup sailing race will be utilised to further support the educational activities of the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club and to promote sailing in Greece.
Thousands of friends, relatives, colleagues or just genuine sports fans are expected to attend the events in order to cheer their favourite teams and athletes in their effort to achieve Posidonia glory.
Registrations are still open on the Posidonia website, which contains details for each of the four tournaments including dates, timings, competition formats, award ceremony venues, participation fees and other useful information.
The Posidonia Games are sponsored by the following companies and organisations: Sponsors Lalizas, Jotun, Aria Fine Catering and supporters ABS, D. Koronakis SA, ShipMedical Ltd and G4S Telematix are backing the ninth edition of the Posidonia Cup; Gold sponsor DNV-GL and sponsor Empire Navigation are supporting the Posidonia Running Event, which made its debut appearance in the Posidonia calendar in 2016; Thenamaris and Costamare are again sponsoring the fourth Posidonia Golf Tournament, which is powered by Costa Navarino; and the Posidonia Shipsoccer Tournament, which was launched in 2008, is again sponsored by Swift Marine. Limited sponsorship opportunities are still available.