Navarino Challenge sports event: Enriched activities in Messinia of Peloponnese

ATHENS – The Greek sports tourism event Navarino Challenge returns for a 7th consecutive year, on October 11-13, 2019, to Messinia and Costa Navarino.

The annual event was recently honored with a Gold Award at the Tourism Awards, the highest distinction in Greek tourism. Navarino Challenge has updated and enriched its program this year with innovative activities at the Municipality of Pylos-Nestor aiming at breaking the record of 7,500 athletes, visitors and volunteers.

The event’s 3-day program includes Open Water Swimming, where enthusiasts will have the chance to compete in a chip-timed event on Saturday, Oct. 12, at the beautiful Navarino Bay from the scenic Pylos Harbor, covering the unique 1 mile (1.6 km) route of the open water swimming race by. The route has been designed by the national federal technical coach, Nikos Gemelos (the coach who has earned countless Olympic and world-class honors in open water swimming for Greece).

Challenge The Wind – Sailing Races, an interclub sailing race on a triangle course with Optimist and Laser 4.7 boats, will be held for the first time from October 11-13. The race will be co-organized with the Maritime Athletic Pylos Association Nestor under the aegis of the Hellenic Sailing Federation.

To be held on the second weekend of October, Challenge The Wind, as its name suggests, hopes to become an annual tradition and sporting benchmark for sailing competitions in the coming years.

Sea Κayaking in the Navarino Bay will be held for the first time on Saturday, Oct. 12. It will start from the port of Pylos at Poseidonia and head to the island of Sphacteria, supported by Explore Messinia. Participants will paddle towards the inside of the bay exploring the coastline of Sphacteria.

Basketball Camp with Joe Arlauckas will be the sport of honor at the Pylos indoor basketball court. On Sunday, Oct. 13, children from Pylos and Messinia, ages 8-16 will have the opportunity to attend basketball lessons for free by the Euroleague legend Joe Arlaukas, while on Saturday, Oct. 12, a basketball clinic will be held at Costa Navarino.

Kids’ Athletics returns for another year to Pylos Square on Saturday, Oct. 12, with Periklis Iakovakis, the Olympic & World Champion in 400 meter hurdles, as its ambassador. This is an activity that aims at getting children acquainted with track and field sports. The Kids’ Athletics activities include long jump, the sport of the legendary Olympic champion Kostis Tsiklitiras, who was born in Pylos, Messinia.

On Saturday, Oct. 12, enables visitors to Pylos to visit the refurbished family home of the Olympic champion Kostis Tsiklitiras. It is now a museum housing a Library and Art Gallery with rare documents, paintings, historical maps, and many interesting exhibits.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES

On Saturday, Oct. 12, athletes and visitors can partake of Messinia’s rich culinary heritage as Pylos comes alive with booths celebrating local flavors: traditional lalagia, loukoumia, pasteli sesame seed bars and nuts with honey created by food blogger Mamatsita, Poseidonia and Pylos Poems.

At Sunset Beach at Voidokilia on Friday, Oct. 11, instructor Dimitris Moros and FitnessArt will hold sunset beach yoga sessions by Messinian Spa to the backdrop of the mythical Voidokilia, Messinia’s famed beach in the shape of the letter Omega in the Greek alphabet (written as “Ω”).

Active Media, the organizing company which innovates in the field of destination and hotel sports tourism, promises a unique event with many surprises for everyone. Active Media Group Chief Executive Officer, Akis Tsolis said, “Sports tourism is one of the fastest-growing segments in the entire travel industry, and we’ve been fortunate over the past several years to really establish Messinia as a go-to sporting destination with Navarino Challenge. Youth, amateur or professional athletes are traveling to compete more than ever today, and they’re bringing with them their coaches, fans, parents, siblings, and friends – all of whom contribute to the hosting region’s local economy. Messinia is a unique region offering unparalleled on-site experiences as well as awesome restaurants, hotels, and attractions to visiting athletes, to enjoy during their leisure time. That’s a rare combination in the travel sports industry, and something we’ve really been able to leverage.”

More information on accommodation packages can be found on the following link on the website of: http://www.navarinochallenge.com/accommodation-packages-2019.

There is a 30% discount on registration until May 31.

Entries for the award-winning sporting event are underway and interested parties can take part by completing the special form available at the following link: http://activemedia.com.gr/product/navarino-challenge-2019/.

For more information on accommodation packages in the region visit VitaNTravel: http://vitantravel.gr/.