Remarks from Minister Pangalos
Check Against Delivery

Cultural Olympiad

Introduction

The Cultural Olympiad offers an opportunity to connect Olympic education with the information society. The Olympiad includes a number of cultural events which aim to: connect culture with sport, promote ancient and modern Greek civilization, establish lasting institutions, support existing cultural forces, and enhance cooperation between Greek cultural organizations and major international ones.

To this end, and in support of UNESCO’s Culture of Peace initiatives, the Greek ministry is working with both domestic and international partners, including civil society. In particular, we are working with institutes of the Greek ministry of culture (including the Greek National Opera and the Greek Film Centre), the Greek National Tourism Organization, and the Athens Festival.

Structure of the Cultural Olympiad

The Cultural Olympiad consists of three sections.

Section One: Opening and closing ceremonies – including a torch-race and the cultural events which will be underway for the fortnight of the games. The Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games “Athens 2004” is responsible for this section.

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Section Two: Revival and enrichment of the permanent institutions associated with the Olympic Games. The Ministry of Culture and the International Olympic Committee, in cooperation with the Greek Organizing Committee, are responsible for this section which includes:

1. Olympic flame-lighting and distribution of Olympic prizes.
2. The flame-lighting ceremony will be upgraded, where prizes are awarded in Ancient Olympia every four years to prominent personalities in the area of the Olympic Idea, Culture and Peace.
3. An International Event in Ancient Olympia dedicated to the Olympic Idea and Mankind.
4. The Youth Olympic Festival in Ancient Olympia. Four thousand youth from around the world will participate in the Festival and the flame-lighting ceremony. An exhibition organized by the Ministry of Culture for the millennium anniversary of the Olympic Games. In honour of the history of the Olympic Games, there will also be festive events at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne and the Museums of Ancient Olympia.

Section Three: This section constitutes the main body of the Cultural Olympiad for 2001-2004, and it strives to promote initiatives that will continue as effective institutions after 2004. The Ministry of Culture and the Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games “Athens 2004” are responsible for this section. Activities in this section include:

• Ancient Drama Contests to be announced in Athens in September 2000. The contests will emphasize the different version of classic Greek drama.
  Establishment of a Script Museum, a Centre for the Study of Comparative Literature and Greek Literature on the Internet. These initiatives will promote the Greek language on the Internet.
• Establishment of a Centre for Art and Technology to promote digital culture in Greece and SE Europe. An Art and Technology Festival will highlight the cultural identity of SE European artists. These initiatives will support and promote cultural heritage and new technologies.
• There will be a number of major events, including: young artists Bienalle; mathematics Olympiad; international conferences; Youth, Globalization and Culture; Bioethics and Biopolitics; contests for youth; arts; cinema; and dance. There will also be events related to eminent Greeks world-wide for their contributions to science and culture.

All initiatives are based on cooperation between central and regional cultural bodies.

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Administration of the Cultural Olympiad

The Cultural Olympiad is intended to promote cultural heritage, and the initiative is organized and administered by a Société Anonyme under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture. The company is managed by a 15-member Board of Directors, chaired by Mr. Michalis Kakogiannis.

The Ministry of Culture and the Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games “Athens 2004” have delineated responsibilities, sponsorship, copyright, etc. for the organization of this event.

Financing of the Cultural Olympiad

The Cultural Olympiad budget amounts to GRD 50 billion (including the Youth Olympic Festival) for the entire four-year period. It is recognized that the Cultural Olympiad will include events and productions by bodies that will not necessarily be financed (or will receive partial financing) from the Cultural Olympiad resources.

The Cultural Olympiad as a Development Opportunity

On the occasion of the 3rd Action Plan, the Ministry of Culture will upgrade all archeological sites and theatres in preparation for the Cultural Olympiad. For example, ancient theatres will be restored in order to host theatrical productions within the scope of the Cultural Olympiad, especially in the areas where the Olympic Games will be held. The Cultural Olympiad is associated with the Cultural Employment of the Ministry of Culture.

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