Η Πόλη της Αθήνας στο Σικάγο

Friday June 19, 2009 - A spectacular four-day event begins today at the Navy Pier in Chicago from June 19-22 as part of a campaign by Greece to highlight the array of attractions available to visitors from the U.S. in the City of Athens. Greece is increasingly becoming a leading destination for tourists in the U.S., with visitor numbers to Athens increasing over the last few years, attracted by the range of experiences on offer.

A customized Sphere will form the dramatic backdrop for "The World of Athens" roadshow that will offer a sensory introduction to the city’s beauty, from its culture and attractions to nightlife and cuisine. The Sphere will resemble an impressive dome onto which videos, images and graphics about the city will be projected. At night time, projections will be visible from the outside.

The event promises to be a great family day out with admission free to the public. Visitors will be treated to professional entertainers including Greek dancers and musicians, and able to sample a range of delicious Greek food inside the Kafeneio coffee shop. Additionally, they can enter a “World of Athens” contest to win a seven-day trip for two in the Greek Capital to experience the wonders of Athens firsthand.

The event is being organised in collaboration with the Greek National Tourism Organisation and the Ministry of Tourism. GNTO Director, U.S.A. & Canada, Mr. George Tambakis, said: "We are thrilled to bring the attractions of Athens to America to showcase the city as a superb vacation destination. Not only does Athens have historical attractions, culture and cuisine, but the past decade has seen huge investment in infrastructure from our metro system to the city’s airport, making Athens better than ever to visit as a leading European tourist destination for Americans."

"The Navy Pier event is part of an international series of roadshows for the City of Athens," added the Greek Minister of Tourism, Mr Konstantinos Markopoulos. "This is an exciting initiative aimed at promoting Athens and Greece through five special events in the European and American markets. Our aim is to raise awareness that Athens is a forward thinking, contemporary European metropolis that has a lot to offer to the U.S. tourists."

Notes to Editors
World of Athens event will be held at the Gateway Park at the Nay Pier, 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago.
Event opens to the public on Friday, June 19, at 10:00 am, running from 10:00 am – 10:00 pm on Friday, June 19 – Sunday, June 21, and from 3:00 – 10:00 pm on Monday, June 22.
Press Day for the ‘The World of Athens’ will take place on Friday, June 19, 2009.

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For further information and / or press passes, please contact:

Abby Berg-Hammond

312 228 6882

Ben Trounson

646 935 4287

[ Organizer's Press Release ]