EEC celebrated World Basketball Day at KEA Chara

December 21st is now “World Basketball Day” and the EEC honored the sport in its own way as its committee consisting of Vangelis Liolios, Dimitris Diamantidis, Costas Tsartsari, Evina Malta, Mariella Fasoula and Dino Sverkounos were at KEA Chara and sent an include message.

The information from the EEC states in detail:

“From this year, basketball has its own World Day by decision of the UN, and the EEC has sent its own message that the sport we love is for everyone, that December 21st carries the message of inclusion with the vehicle of the orange ball should send!

EEC President Vangelis Liolios, Dimitris Diamantidis, Costas Tsartsaris, Evina Maltsi, Mariella Fasoula and EEC Director Dinos Sverkounos visited KEA Hara together with Hasan Kalil, Diplomatic Representative of UNICEF Greece.

The Vice President of KEA the structure whose aim is to include basketball in the daily program of the Center’s beneficiaries and, with the help of the Center’s experts, to take advantage of the multiple benefits of the sport. Dimitris Diamantidis, Kostas Tsartsaris, Evina Maltsi and Mariella Fasoula played basketball and painted together with the JOY Center beneficiaries, creating special moments and lots of smiles.

Vangelis Liolios, Hassan Kalil and Alexandra Palli (Vice President of KEA Chara) spoke about the message of today’s visit, but also about the UN’s decision to dedicate a day to basketball:

Vangelis Liolios: “I would like to thank you very much for the invitation we received to visit KEA Chara, a voluntary private organization that also helps people with special needs. We are very happy to be here. Today is World Basketball Day, declared by the UN. It is December 21st, the day basketball was born in Springfield, it is the day Naismith discovered, invented and created a new sport on a cold night: basketball. It was the longest night of winter, but basketball brought the light, the shine that helps us become better people.

By coming here today to show and highlight your efforts, we show that basketball is not just a shot, a basket, a sport, but an entire society. They are principles and values, like all sports, that represent an integration that encompasses them all. He embraces all these people, the children, who have special abilities.

By first connecting with all people, we become better people and then we take at least some of the love those people give us to give back. We represent Greek basketball together with experienced athletes who have glorified Greece. We are here among people and children with special abilities who have offered us something very powerful today, and I urge everyone to support this and similar efforts, not for their own good, but for our good and that of our society.

We are a society that needs to be united, we need these children, the need to recognize our role as human beings in the short time we are in this world».

Ghassan Khalil: “I would like to thank the officials of KEA Chara, the president of EEC and his friend Vangelis Liolios and all the athletes who are here. It’s World Basketball Day and it’s the first time it’s being celebrated in accordance with a UN resolution.

It is impressive because it confirms once again that sport means development and is for everyone, because children’s rights are for everyone. It is truly impressive to come here today and see this space and outdoor area where children and adults with special needs can exercise their right to sport!

It is the best basketball day message. We thank the EWG for its commitment to bringing the principles of human rights and children’s rights to this special sport for the benefit of society».

Alexandra Palli: “Our boarding school has existed since 1983. It is very important for us that you are here, because we see how you move the team forward, how “I” becomes “We”, how “I can’t” becomes “I can” will “. This gives us all great strength, the employees, the board, the volunteers and the parents.

Sport has a very strong and big voice. You are that voice and strength. Inclusion is important. People with special needs should not be excluded. Society must integrate us all. Basketball lets you know: It’s World Basketball Day.

It is a symbolic day created by the United Nations that shows us examples of inclusion and self-confidence and gives our children self-confidence. What you are going to do today will give our children confidence. Thank you for being with us and supporting us.”