Panathinaikos president Vassilis Parthenopoulos has unveiled a specially designed jersey for the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament, to be hosted in Australia this September, in the presence of Australia’s Ambassador to Greece Alison Duncan and Greek Community of Melbourne President Bill Papastergiadis.
The private tour of Panathinaikos’ iconic home venue OAKA arena—complete with its internationally acclaimed LED-embedded glass floor court, moved Papastergiadis who told Neos Kosmos it was “a spectacular stadium with world-class facilities that match any top club globally”.
“Meeting Mr Parthenopoulos opened my eyes to the enormity of what this club means—not just to Greece, but to European basketball.”
The marquee pre-season event named after the legendary Panathinaikos owner will be staged for the first time on Australian soil.
The Greek powerhouse will square off against EuroLeague giant KK Partizan and take on Australian clubs Adelaide 36ers and Sydney Kings.
Panathinaikos’ president Parthenopoulos pointed to the deep significance of the tour, “We’re bringing a legacy, a name, and a nation’s pride,” he said.
“This is for our fans in Australia and for everyone who loves the game.”
“The visit of Ambassador Duncan and Mr Papastergiadis marks a key milestone in our efforts to strengthen ties with the Greek diaspora and to expand the legacy of Pavlos Giannakopoulos.”
Papastergiadis said, “To have one of Europe’s great clubs compete in Australia is a massive boost—not just to our sporting ties, but to our community connections.”
Ambassador Duncan welcomed the sports exchange and said, “Panathinaikos is one of Europe’s top teams, and they’ll receive a very warm welcome from Australian basketball fans and the Greek diaspora alike.”
