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Emanuela Karastoyanova

Can you imagine a wild river in Athens in which you can go down in a boat or in canoe – kayak? If the answer is yes than you are headed in the right direction – in Athens there is such a river and it is available for everyone. If your answer is no, then you should come and visit the Olympic facilities for canoe – kayak in Eliniko and you will see it for your self that you were wrong. From December 22^nd until May 16^th the “Days of the sport and pleasure” are held in it. www.grreporter.info did not resist the temptation and decided to see from up close and get to know the facility and its program. It turned out that it was not in vain….

The place is located only 15 km away from the center. On a territory of 30 km² the facility, for which the company “Sports and amusement parks” is taking care, offers great conditions for fun in the water for children, teenager and adults. Each Saturday and Sunday the sports center is opened for visitors. Here they can take part in a contest in canoe – kayak slalom and rafting. In the rafting contests anybody who is older than 8 years old and can swim can take part. A requirement which everybody should meet is to pass through a one hour of training in rafting… (a requirement which nobody would refuse!). The participants are competing in groups and in each boat enter between 6 and 8 people. A requirement for the contest in canoe – kayak slalom is for the competitor to already have practiced the specific sport. In this case as well as in the previous one the participants take part in one hour training before the start of the fun event.

During its visit in the Olympic sports facility www.grreporter.info had the chance to witness the practice of the Czech national team of canoe – kayak slalom. Under the warm rays of the spring sun the athletes were giving their best when fighting the stormy water which not just once was trying to show it is more powerful than the paddles of the youngsters with its kickers. The view is incredible and worth seeing.  

At the meeting with the director of the facility in canoe – kayak, Mr. Yannis Holevas, we asked about the history of the sports facility. As Mr. Holevas explained the company “Sports and amusement parks” has undertaken to use the Olympic facility in canoe – kayak slalom with the perspective of building the biggest Water park in Europe and the biggest subject park on the Balkan peninsula. The facility has been build in 2004 for the needs of the Olympic games and during the test event it won the interest of the experts and athletes with its exceptional high level. According to the words of Mr. Holevas this is the best facility in canoe – kayak slalom in the world and event the ones from the games in Beijing cannot compare to it. In 2005 and 2006 here were held the World championships in canoe – kayak. Currently in the facility are practicing the European national teams of canoe – kayak slalom. “For the first time the program “Days of the sport and pleasure” was organized in 2008 and it lasted 1 month. Because of the great success it had and the fact that many athletes enjoyed it we decided that this year the program will last 4 months” – explained Mr. Holevas. From the end of February until now 2000 children – students took part in it. The facility will be opened for visitors every Saturday and Sunday until May 9^th, 2010 (with the exception of 11.04 which is Easter).

If your ideas of an interesting and odd ways to spend the weekend have finished or you don’t know what to do with the kids who turn your house upside down in the weekend, because they have no other way to waste their energy don’t think it over for too long and come in the Olympic facility for canoe – kayak. The water kickers will bring you and your kids powerful emotions and will see to you having great time in the weekend.

Contact details: Sports and amusement park

Aeroporias Str. Olympic facility for canoe-kayak slalom

16 777 Helliniko

Tel. 210 98 48 676

www.hellinikonparks.gr/days/

e-mail: info@hellinikonparks.gr