In early June, οΏ½οΏ½οΏ½ V.P. and Regional Coordinator Chris P. Tomaras was asked: οΏ½Can you imagine how glorious it would be to see the ATHENS 2004 flag proudly flying in urban centers and airports throughout N. & S. America? Or to see the nighttime skylines of our RegionοΏ½s cities lit up all blue-and-white as the Games approached? Or see the ATHENS 2004 Paralympics flag outside major rehabilitation centers? Can you imagine it?οΏ½ He certainly could, Tomaras answered, and then proceeded to make it happenοΏ½

Tomaras wrote to more than a dozen mayors, urging them to promote the Olympic Spirit and saying οΏ½οΏ½more than for any previous Olympics, the success of the Athens Games is vitally important to the solidarity of the civilized world.οΏ½ Boston was the first to respond, followed by Ottawa, Los Angeles and others. Now, a month later, plans are being made for οΏ½οΏ½οΏ½ to deliver the flags to the mayors and other officials in late July at a series of media events in the participating cities. In addition to οΏ½οΏ½οΏ½, the ranking representative of the Hellenic Republic, the U.S. Olympic Committee, the Church and other community leaders in each city will be asked to take part in the local ceremonies. Tomaras has also sent each of the RegionοΏ½s οΏ½οΏ½οΏ½-Member Federations a letter, urging them to contact the mayors of major cities in N. & S. America and asking them to participate in both the ATHENS 2004 Flag and Skyline Light programs. Member-organizations, and interested cities, should contact Nick Karahalios or Peter Kournetas at 312.357.6424, or at [email protected] for details.

JUST THE LATEST OF OUR οΏ½οΏ½οΏ½ REGIONοΏ½S EFFORTS TO PROMOTE ATHENS 2004 OLYMPICS

As part of its mandate to promote Hellenism worldwide, οΏ½οΏ½οΏ½ was asked to assist the ATHENS 2004 Organizing Committee in its efforts by encouraging Volunteers and increasing awareness of the Games. For its part, The Americas Region and its Youth Network helped enlist 3,000 Volunteers, promoted and presented numerous multi-media community updates, conducted a οΏ½Win a Trip for 2 to the Athens OlympicsοΏ½ drawing, co-sponsored an οΏ½Ekecheiria,οΏ½ art exhibition on the theme of the Olympic Truce and several 2004 Olympics museum exhibits, as well as distributing thousands of 2004 Olympics materials to member-organizations in the Hemisphere.