Panathinaikos players Dionysia Alexandris and Olympiakos players Ioanna Diela visited a school where they had the opportunity to speak to students and send a message against fan violence.

The two athletes spoke to students and wanted to convey their own message against fan violence and express the true dimension of sport, which has nothing to do with violence.

The PSAK contribution in detail:

Message against sports violence from Diela and Alexandris during a school visit

“Fan violence is not part of sport. It’s a social phenomenon!”

This was the message of the international players Ioanna Diela (Olympiakos) and Dionysia Alexandri (Panathinaikos) to the students of the European Standard – EPS School, which they received at the invitation of the director of the school unit in Piraeus, Ms. Dionysias Alexakis.

“We tried to show the kids the real side of the sport,” said Ioanna Diela. “Its advantages. Its values, how much it contributes to the development of the personality of the individual and the socialization of people, the noble rivalry. Fan violence has nothing to do with sport! It is a social phenomenon. Luckily, there are kids involved as middle schoolers and by high school they had a well-rounded perspective on the issue.”

From the discussion between the athletes and the students – with the two players playing a “dual” role, as they are not only athletes but also teachers – the serious incidents of fan violence that occurred recently and led to the death of Alki Kampanou and Michalis led Katsouri.

In fact, in the dialogue that took place, the students expressed their personal opinions, which “identified with ours”, as Ioanna Diela noted, while the two players told them the incidents that they themselves had experienced on the fields.

“We told the children how we feel when they insult us on the field or throw things at us and asked how they would feel if they were in our shoes. They looked worried. One of the kids even told us how bad he felt when it happened.” Sometimes when he went to the stadium, he witnessed fan violence. He thought about how his family would react if they found out.said Ioanna Diela and added.

“It is important that the children understand that as athletes we are only rivals on the field for 40 minutes. Just because we play in competitive clubs doesn’t mean we are enemies.”

Dionysia Alexandri made the same important point, emphasizing that athletes have an additional “link” that binds them together: the national team.

“When they asked us how we feel when we play against Ioanna and how the fans behave towards us, I told them that if they happened to get into an argument with a classmate about a player or about Panathinaikos and Olympiakos advised, first.” You have to remember that we gymnasts are only rivals within the playing field! You should think that there is the national team that unites us and that we are all friends off the field.

But first and foremost we are all human beings. We tried to put the children in our shoes. Imagine how they would feel if they saw a relative facing their fans cursing and throwing objects. I think the kids were pretty worried at this point. I believe we touched their souls.”

For her part, the principal of the Piraeus High School of the European Standard – EPS, Ms. Dionysia Alexakis, said about the visit of the two athletes:

“In times of unsportsmanlike conduct and cases of fan violence, the message of basic sports fan education must reach out to teenagers – the fans of tomorrow, and that starts in school!”

From the bottom of our hearts we thank the international basketball players Ioanna Diela and Dionysia Alexandri as well as the representatives of their clubs, Mr. Dimitratou Evi and Lymoura Lolita, for their immediate response to our school’s call, European Standard – EPS and the presence of the players in the entire gymnastics class of the High school classes in the AOF sports facilities. Purple.

The basketball players – who were selected, among other things, as graduates of educational departments and humanitarian orientation studies at the postgraduate level – conveyed a clear message against violence in sports with sportsmanship, professionalism, moderation and enthusiasm through experience and during their speech through interaction with others to the young students, on and next to the field.

With the vision of educating students who pave the way, this day of awareness and joy for all participants is a special place of gratitude for Ioanna and Dionysia!”