Vassilis’ big moment…
Vassilis Spanoulis was presented with the award for sportsmen under the age of 35 from the International Giuseppe Sciacca Awards that resides at the Vatican before the jump ball of the game against Galatasaray.
The award ceremony was conducted by the internationally acclaimed Greek director Giannis Smaragdis (Member of the Presiding Committee) and the Greek Secretary General, Archaeologist and Communications Specialist Vicky Bafataki, with a Global Award in Communications (2005), in the presence of the President of the International Awards Giuseppe Sciacca, Reverent – University Professor, Bruno Lima and the Presidency’s Youth delegate, Fabricio Marsili.
Here is the Press Conference conducted after the end of the game against Galatasaray in regard to the award presented to our team’s captain.
Bruno Lima: “I thank Greece, I thank Vassilis Spanoulis. It’s a great honor to be here in Greece with you. I think of your country as my second home, since I’m an honorary citizen of Xanthi. Looking at Vassilis Spanoulis eyes, I truly saw mirrored all the pride deriving from the fact that he belongs with this country that has given glory to the entire world. The award we have given him aims to celebrate his athletic skills, his talent and the character of this great champion-athlete. I think that Vassilis Spanoulis is by now an inseparable part of our educational organization and an organic part of our history. I also wish to thank the organizers of this magnificent athletic event that glorifies the skill and lovers of this game and the Professor Mrs. Vassiliki Bafataki that is an ambassador of this award not only in Greece but in the whole world. The mental abilities as well as the professionalism and the human quality of Mrs. Bafataki represent basic values of this award. I only wish to add that I, as well as our organization, am especially grateful to Greece and the Greeks for giving us this opportunity and these gifts”.
Vicky Bafataki: “It’s a great honor to be among a great sports family. We have awarded Vassilis Spanoulis by exception in the country that has given birth to sports. Vassilis, it’s been a great joy, not only for me, but for all the Greeks that you the absolute winner of the award and we are proud that you are Greek and serve the ideals and principles of sports, being a shiny example for next generations, in an effort to move forward with a totally different mentality. I think that sports are the corner stone of culture; we were born in a country that birthed the Olympic ideal. The name of the sport is not important, fair play is. I wish to thank you for making us proud as Greeks. I would like to say a couple of things about the awards. They are only 12 years old, promote cultural, scientific and social volunteerism, ideals and give youth a stepping stone. They are probably among the first awards in a Global scale that give the chance to young people up to 35 years of age to compete for them. I would like to let you know that it’s 1.5 years now that the Greek Secretariat is in function with a lot of members. Many members from Rhodes, from Xanthi. I wish to thank for the members for their support, the journalists and all those who have stood by us. What we all need to do is get Greece out its micro cosmos. We have many remarkable people that we need to introduce to the international community. I wish to really thank Premio Sacca, thank a friend that has been assisting us in this endeavor, Giorgos Tsoukalis, whithout him maybe all of these could not have happened. I wish to thank Samsung, our sponsor. Vassilis, thank you and we are all very proud of you. I also wish to thank Olympiacos, Mr. Stavropoulos and Mr. Bafes for all they’ve done, for doing everything for tonight’s ceremony”.
Giannis Smaragdis : “I’m here in a triple capacity. First of all I’m a prior honoree, I’m the President of the Committee, as a director and in fourth capacity that defines us all, we are Greeks. When I was presenting Vassilis with the Award, I told him that each time a Greeks gets an international Award the whole of Greece is awarded. I am benefited from the contact I’ve had with him, since while talking to him, I saw a higher grace in his gaze. It’s the grace of the people that carry a good soul. And it is those people that enrich the rest of us. Because kindness is the basis for becoming better people. We have to love others. And he does that multiplying the positive aura of his soul benefiting others. I leave this congregation with the magnificent gaze of this person awarded tonight, for the whole of his being and the kindness of his soul”.
Christos Stavropoulos : “It’s a great joy and honor to be here among important people. I don’t think I need to say anything special about Vassilis Spanoulis the athlete. This award shows his place in our society. I think this award is going to have a special place amongst the dozens he has conquered in his career. It’s a great honor for Vassilis, Olympiacos and Greek Basketball, that our captain has been chosen for this award. On behalf of Olympiacos I would like to thank you for this immense honor you did to our athlete, Vassilis Spanoulis and to the whole of Greece”.
Vassilis Spanoulis: “What can I say after so many great things I’ve heard from people I’m honored to be amongst. They are words that touch my heart and move me and make me very proud for the principles and character my family instilled in me. With these principles I walk in life and I try to pass them on to the family I have created as well as to basketball. Because basketball is a miniature of life. This prize is of the highest honor. It represents all of Greece, because when we are united, we can. And it represents my team, Olympiacos. I truly thank you, I don’t wish to say much. It’s the highest honor for me, it’s a great award that will always be warming my heart and will be giving me strength to continue my fight and effort. I’m proud this award is won by a Greek, regardless of that Greek being me. Thank you”.
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