News from Greece

August 2001 (pdf format)

January 2001 (pdf format)

October 2000

During the last decade there has been a strong interest in the development of the Adapted Physical Activity in Greece. A small number of interesting faculty members has been supportive of the growing trend that has been initiated in this area. Mini symposia and seminars on a national as well as European level have been organised with the aim of increasing awareness and acceptance of the public towards disability sports and Adapted Physical Activity.

The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and more specifically the Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences located in Serres, in association with the municipality of Serres and the Greek Association for Wheelchair Basketball recently organised the 2^nd Panhellenic seminar in the area of wheelchair basketball in order to advance the knowledge of physical education teachers and coaches regarding this fast growing sport.

The title of the seminar was ‘Recent Developments of Wheelchair Basketball". The seminar was held in Serres from 14-16 of April 2000. The main speaker was Yves Van Landewijck from the University of Leuven, Belgium and the topics covered were biomechanics, exercise physiology, ergometry and classification of wheelchair basketball. Two hundred people attended the seminar.

In addition to the seminar the University supported the organisation of the 3^rd Panhellenic Championship of wheelchair basketball in order to give the public the opportunity to attend in practise this spectacular sport.

Overall the Departments of Physical Education are trying to promote the public's knowledge regarding wheelchair sports due to the fact that Greece should be ready for the Paralympic Games of 2004.

Christina Evaggelinou
Representative of Greece.