15-01-2009: “OPAP SA to finance six City of Athens projects”

Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis
today announced plans by OPAP SA to finance
the remodeling of six City of Athens sports and
recreation sites, during a joint press conference with OPAP SA chairman and
director Christos Hadjiemmanuil and City of Athens Youth and Sport Organisation chairman Vassilis Kikilias
at City Hall.




OPAP SA will
provide a total of 900,000 euros in funding to the City of Athens as part of the company's Corporate
Social Responsibility Programme.




The funds
will go toward the reconstruction of the indoor basketball and volleyball
courts in the Grava Sports Centre and the remodelling of five municipal
playgrounds. The playgrounds to be upgraded comprise the 117th Strefi Hill
playground, 295th Agios Ioannis Vouliagmenis playground, 685th Kanari
Square-Fokionos Negri playground, 483rd Pantazopoulou Square-Kolonos playground
and the 589th Vallianou and Dorpfeld-Ano Patissia playground.




Mayor Kaklamanis
thanked Mr Hadjiemmanuil for the sponsorship announced today as well as the
200,000-euro grant the company provided the City of Athens for the redecoration of Syntagma Square
during the Christmas holidays.




Mayor Kaklamanis
also referred to the New
Acropolis Museum,
objecting to the fact that the Mayor of Athens does not serve on the museum's
board of directors. He said that this case is unique, compared to all other
major European cities.




OPAP SA
chairman and director Christos Hadjiemmanuil made the following statement:


"Our contribution
to Greek society constitutes an integral element of our philosophy and business
activity. The company's administration runs an extensive, well-organised
corporate social responsibility programme which focuses on financing major,
permanent projects which benefit the wider community, rather than philanthropic
events. We focus on activities which do not attract direct assistance from the
political system. We want to help children senior citizens, disabled
individuals and our needy fellow citizens. Within this context, we decided to
support the City of Athens and help improve playgrounds and sports centres,
which constitute a public resource - especially in a city like Athens, which is
so densely populated and offers children few such opportunities".




City of Athens Youth and Sport
Organisation (ONA) chairman Vassilis Kikilias
said:


"I am pleased to have OPAP SA on our team in our effort to make all
children in Athens
our first priority. As we have learned in the past two years here at ONA,
OPAP's sponsorship will be put to use on our part in practice".