FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TORONTO, ONTARIO—The Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) announces that Greece has been approved to become its 57th member nation in a May 2017 postal vote of federation members.
Bob DeMarco
“I am pleased to welcome Greece as our 57th member. It is very special having the nation that is the “Birthplace of the Olympics” be a part of the FIL.”
— Bob DeMarco, FIL Director of Development
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Greece joins France, Israel, Italy, Spain, and Turkey as FIL member nations on the Mediterranean and becomes the 29th member from Europe.
The journey began in July of 2014 when the Greece Lacrosse Association (GLA) was formed by co-founders Paul and George Katsiaunis during the 2014 Men’s Lacrosse World Championship in Denver, Colorado.
Paul Katsiaunis
“We are very pleased to become an associate member of the FIL a few years after starting this journey. This is good news for the continued development of the Greece Lacrosse Association.”
—Paul Katsiaunis, Founder, Greece Lacrosse Association
Since its inception, the growth of the GLA has been steady, initially on the international competition level and now at the grass roots level in Greece.Paul, a gifted long stick defenseman from Tenafly High School in Tenafly, N.J., captained Greek squads comprised of mostly Greek-American players that competed in three international friendly tournaments in 20×14, 2016 and 2017.
George, the Executive Director for the GLA, along with with Bob Vlahakis, GLA General Manager of Lacrosse Operations, has been working recently to develop lacrosse in elementary, middle and high schools, and at the collegiate levels throughout Greece.
Bob Vlahakis
“It is a joy to see our efforts rewarded, and we look forward to working together with the FIL to pursue the rapid growth of the game in Greece. This has been a dream for many years and, through the determined work of Paul and George Katsiaunis, who laid the foundation, we can now move forward even faster with our plans. We are committed to growing and developing the game equally well on both the men’s and women’s side.”
—Bob Vlahakis, GLA General Manager of Lacrosse Operations
According to Vlahakis, lacrosse was introduced to over 400 elementary, middle and high school aged children in Thessaloniki, Greece earlier this year in a four-month program called “Boots on the Ground.” The program was presented to and endorsed by Anatolia College in Thessaloniki, Greece. Stepan Partemian, Coordinator of Athletics and Student Activities at Anatolia College and the GLA’s Regional Director for Thessaloniki carefully arranged physical education classes at all levels to be available.
Boots on the Ground – 13 March 2017
Photos from 13 March 2017 during one of the Greece Lacrosse Associations’s “Boots on the Ground” camps. “Boots on the Ground” was a four-month program that introduced lacrosse to over 400 elementary to high school aged children and was directed by teacher/coach Jason Pereles. Pereles will be directing three more camps this month (June 2017). Photos: GLA 2017
Teacher/coach Jason Pereles, who was hired by the GLA in January as an intern on an interim basis, directed the efforts of the “Boots on the Ground” program. He will be running three more lacrosse camps this month, potentially touching as many as 250 more students. Pereles will be staying on through the fall to continue to assist the GLA in its development efforts.
The success of the “Boots on the Ground” program led to the addition of a second program that will be taking place this month in Trikala, Greece. The program is an intensive 5-day clinic for girls and physical education teachers selected from 14 Middle Schools and nine High Schools in the region. Maria Samara, a foreign language teacher at Aristotle University and GLA Regional Director in Trikala, has done all the groundwork preparing for this clinic, coordinating her efforts with GLA Women’s Director, Cathy Samaras.
Vlahakis believes that these on-going programs, along with FIL membership and an anticipated FIL fall clinic with physical education teachers, will be the catalyst for the rapid development of both the men’s and women’s lacrosse programs as the sports catches on in Greece.
Plans are in place for Greece to attend the FIL Women’s World Cup in Manchester 12-22 July 2017 to observe and participate in meetings, then field two men’s teams to compete in the FIL Men’s Lacrosse World Championship and accompanying festival tournament in Netanya, Israel, 12-21 July 2018.
“With the tremendous role that Greece played in the Olympic games,” says a beaming Vlahakis, “and with all their famous Olympians, we now can proudly watch as young student-athletes of present day Greece embrace the fastest game on two feet and make lacrosse the next major sport in Greece.”
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Contact Greece Lacrosse Association
Email: info@lacrosse.gr
Greece Lacrosse Association Media Outlets
Website: lacrosse.gr
Facebook: GLA Facebook Page
Twitter: GLA Twitter Account
About Greece Lacrosse Association
Greece Lacrosse is committed to developing the sport of lacrosse in Greece, to raise funds for the continuing development of the sport of lacrosse in Greece, and to generally support, encourage, and promote the sport of lacrosse in Greece, by maximizing our resources, dedication and leadership.
We strive to provide programs and services that inspire participation while protecting and honoring the integrity of the game. We envision a future that offers people of all ages in Greece the opportunity to discover, learn, participate in, enjoy and ultimately embrace the shared passion of the lacrosse experience.
Greece Lacrosse is a 501c3 non-profit. Our address for any financial contributions is:
GREECE LACROSSE
c/o Howard Borkan
1501 Broadway, 21st Floor
New York, NY 10036
