2013 Oceania Pan-Hellenic Games awarded to Canberra

The Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra and District are delighted at the announcement to award the 5th Oceania Pan-Hellenic Games to Canberra in 2013.

The Oceania Pan-Hellenic Games is an initiative of World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) Oceania, and brings together youth of Hellenic background and promotes the Greek civilization and its cultural legacies to local society. The announcement was made in Darwin at the conclusion of the 4th Oceania Pan-Hellenic Games on
2nd October 2011.

This biannual event was previously held with great success in Sydney in 2005, Adelaide in 2007, and Melbourne in 2009 with participant youth of Greek background competing in a culturally rich environment and forging relations that promote Hellenism in Oceania. All previous games have attracted strong support from government, at Local, State and Federal levels. At the recent 2011 Games held in Darwin, the Northern Territory Government contributed substantially to assist in the running of the event along with other corporate and private sponsors. The Greek Orthodox Community will be seeking similar support from the ACT Government.

Businessman John Halikos the head of the Kalymnian Brotherhood in Darwin and prime sponsor of the 2011 Games has indicated that he will make a generous contribution to support the organisation of the Pan-Hellenic Games in Canberra.

It is estimated that up to a 1000 athletes from all over Australia and New Zealand will travel to Canberra to participate in a variety of different sports including Football, Basketball, Swimming, Track and Field.

Chair of the Canberra Pan-Hellenic Games Committee, John Efkarpidis was in Darwin for the announcement and accepted the Games on behalf of the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra and District. The President Mr Paul Levantis also thanked John for accepting the role of Chair of the Organising Committee for the Games and for representing the Greek Community of Canberra on the National Stage.

Mr Efkarpidis said that hosting the Games would provide an excellent opportunity to showcase the city of Canberra, in particular it's world-class sporting facilities, in what will be a significant year for the Nation’s Capital which will be celebrating its Centenary year in 2013.

Further information and contact:

John Efkarpidis
0414 444 788
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