R-L: Yannis Theodorakopoulos (GSJA President), Yannis Vroutsis (Deputy Minister of Sports), Katerina Tzika (Mr President’s wife), Spyros Kapralos (President of the Greek and European Olympic Committee), George Mavrotas (General Secretary of Sports).

ATHENS, January 17, 2024 - On a warm December evening, the Greek Sport’s Journalists Association Grand Feast of Sports took place for the 70^th time in a row. It was attended by more than 800 guests. The event, during which the best male and female athletes are rewarded, was first held in 1954. The President of the Greek Association, Yannis Theodorakopoulos, wished the best luck to all the athletes who have qualified for the Olympics and expressed his sincere wish for the Greek number to increased. He also mentioned that this year’s Olympics happen to coincide with the 100^th anniversary of AIPS. “We, all sport journalists, have the obligation to turn the spotlight on the so called unpopular sports, as well as to the athletes of these particular sports, who work and strive together with their coaches away from the public eye and without the support of sponsors,” Yannis Theodorakopoulos stated. 

The newly elected Minister of Sports, Yannis Vroutsis and the President of both the Greek and European Olympic Committees, Spiros Kapralos, also addressed by the audience.
 

This year, Miltos Tentoglou, world long jump champion and Olympic gold medalist was voted as the Best Male Athlete, while Lefteris Petrounias (gymnastics) and Stefanos Ntouskos (rowing) finished in second and third place, respectively. Antigoni Drisbioti, world champion in long distance race walk, was voted as the best female athlete of 2024, while Anna Korakaki (shooting) and Anna Ntountounaki (swimming) finished in second and third place, respectively. The National Waterpolo Team of Men, silver medalist in the world championship, won the Best Team of the year and their coach, Thodoris Vlachos got the reward for the Best Coach of 2023. The football team of AEK and the basketball team of Olympiacos were nominated for the second and third place. In the category of the best coach, Giorgos Pomaski (athletics, Tentoglou's coach) and Giorgos Bartzokas (basketball coach) were nominated for the second and third place. In the category for the Best Athletes with Disabilities, Nasos Gkavelas, paralympic gold-medal athlete in the 100m, was nominated as the best male athlete, while Theodora Paschalidou, silver judoka paralympic, was rewarded as best female athlete. The National Basketball Team of Deaf Women was rewarded as the best team of athletes with disabilities.
 

During the grand event, Theodora Gkountoura and Despoina Metaxia Georgiadou, the most recognisable Greek athletes in world fencing, were rewarded for their outstanding performance. Among other distinguished athletes, the shooting athletes Efthimis Mitas, Charalabos Chalkiadakis, Emanuela Katzouraki and their coach Giorgos Salavadakis were awarded, for their exceptional performance at both European and World Championships. Fotis Zisimopoulos, an international figure of long distance race, was rewarded for his passion, his tremendous achievements and his integrity.     
Among others, special awards were handed over to Nikos Gkalis, legend of the European basketball and Antonis Antoniadis, one of the greatest scorers of European football.
Upcoming talents, personalities who have contributed to sports and significant acts of fair play were also honoured during the Greek feast.