One of Greece’s top sports tourism fests, the Navarino Challenge is uniting people of all ages and abilities for its ninth year, at Costa Navarino and Pylos, Messinia, on 15-17 October 2021.
Each year the Navarino Challenge honours role model athletes for their contribution to sports and society. This year, 100m Gold Paralympic medalist Nasos Ghavelas and his guide Sotiris Garaganis will be honoured after offered emotional moments and pride for Greece at the Tokyo Paralympic Games. To top it off they also set a world record (with a time of 10:82) in the final. This is the second gold medal coming from Pylos, Ghavelas’ place of origin, after that of Kostis Tsiklitiras.
As part of this year’s event, Navarino Challenge will also honor the top international basketball player of all time, Olympian and Eurobasket MVP Evina Maltsi. Basketball fans will have the opportunity to meet her at the 4on4 tournament, while children will have the opportunity to learn the sport’s basic principles together with her and Euroleague Legend, Joe Arlaukas.
READ MORE: Navarino Challenge honours Gold Olympian Miltos Tentoglou and his coach George Pomaski
With its message “sport unites people”, the event promotes again this year the benefits of exercise, the Olympic values and fair play with more than 30 sports activities and 15 Olympic sports.
This year Navarino Outdoors offers participants the opportunity to make their favorite bike ride to the beautiful Voidokilia and enjoy the unique Messinian landscape or you can get your adrenaline going with the whole family at the Navarino Rocks indoor climbing wall. Climbing lessons will be available for people of all ages.
If staying put on land is more your style, the Navarino Challenge offers one of the top Greek Half Marathons of 21.1 kilometres where you can run together with the Greek-American ultramarathon runner Dean (Konstantine) Karnazes. There is also a 10 kilometre route or the fun 5 kilometre route sponsored by Samsung. Moreover, the 1 kilometre children’s route will be held in two groups, for children 10-14 years old and kids up to 9 years of age. The children’s race is held for free.
For more information on the event visit www.navarinochallenge.com
