Oikonomou: “Events like the UEFA Super Cup final signal the dynamic comeback of our country”

A joint press conference was held at midday on Tuesday at the Athens City Hall by the Deputy Minister of Sports, Ioannis Oikonomou, the Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, and the Mayor of Piraeus, Yiannis Moralis, where they expressed their delight in the port city hosting the UEFA Super Cup final.

The final will be held in “G. Karaiskakis” on August 16, between the European champions Manchester City, managed by Pep Guardiola, and the holder of the Europa League, Sevilla.

First to speak was the Deputy Minister of Sports, who emphasised that this particular final marks the dynamic return of our country. He clarified that the goal is for our country to organize as many sports events as possible.

“UEFA has chosen our country for two great competitions! Conscious choices, which signal the dynamic recovery of our country and the reliability of the work of our government. Our goal is to strengthen the extroversion of Greek sports, since we want as many sports events as possible,” he said.

“The top bet for us is the perfect organization of major sporting events,” the deputer minister added.

Then the mayor of Piraeus, Yiannis Moralis, spoke, stating that: “The UEFA Super Cup final is the biggest football event of the summer. It is our pleasure to host the fans and the teams, in a European final that will be held in Karaiskakis for the first time since 1971.”

“We are ready to organise our city, we will have various events and festivals in Korai Square. On the 14th of August we start, but mainly on the 15th and 16th of the month we will have important things.

“The final is recognition for Olympiacos and for Karaiskakis, which remains modern even though it is 20 years old.”

Finally, the floor was taken by the mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, who emphasised that Athens will seek to win a major final after the construction of the new Panathinaikos stadium in Votanikos, in the summer of 2026.

“Our great joy and excitement for the biggest sporting event of the year, the event of events! All the lights will be on Athens and Piraeus, with the global interest we will attract. It is a huge opportunity for Piraeus, Athens and Greece,” he said.

“To ask the mayor and minister for their commitment that from September 1st we will start the bid to host the final again in Greece. From 2026 we will have a state-of-the-art stadium in Votanikos, which will also be ready to host a major final,” the mayor added.

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