Ποιειν Και Πραττειν - create and do

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Opening Session 2. Sept.


                

                         Images of the International Olympic Academy

             

Tuesday 2.September 2015                     Τετάρτη, 2 Σεπτεμβρίου 2015

14.30 Opening Ceremony at the Academy Auditorium

Chairman : Andreas Zaimis, Former Minister

 

Addresses

Dionyssis Gangas, Director of the International Olympic Academy

Eleni Kountoura, Minister of Hellenic Tourism



Zou Xiaoli Ambassador of China



Spyros Mercouris, President of HORIZONS – Human & Cultural Activities

Dr. Hatto Fischer will read a message of the President of the Irish Republic Mr. Michael Higgins.

Liang Lixin, Head of the Chinese delegation and Vice President of Beijing Federation of Social Science Circles

Christodoulos K. Yiallourides, President of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture

Thymios Kotzas Mayor of the City of Olympia



Presentation of two artworks by the artist Dimitris Moraitidis and the Italian artist Pistoleto.

Presentation of the exhibition and video of the Kids of Guernica by the Organization Poiein and Prattein, Dr. Hatto Fischer and the artist Thomas Oikonomakos .

Musical composition by Alexandros Hahalis and directed by Dimitris Zisopoulos. A musical piece inspired by the human effort to conquer Universe with knowledge and technology.



16.30 Guided tour to the archaeological sites and the museum

20.00 Dinner

 

14.30: Τελετή έναρξης

Πρόεδρος: Ανδρέας Ζαίμης τέως Υπουργός





Χαιρετισμοί

Διονύσης Γάγγας Διευθυντής της Διεθνούς Ολυμπιακής Ακαδημίας

Ελένη Κουντουρά – Υπουργός Ελληνικού Τουρισμού

ZouXiaoli Πρέσβης της Λαϊκής Δημοκρατίας της Κίνας

Σπύρος Μερκούρης Πρόεδρος του ΜΚΟ Ορίζοντες Ανθρωπιστικές και Πολιτιστικές Δράσεις

O Dr. HattoFischer θα διαβάσει μήνυμα του Προέδρου της Ιρλανδικής Δημοκρατίας Μr. Michael Higgins.

LiangLixinΕπικεφαλής της Κινεζικής Αντιπροσωπείας και Αντιπρόεδρος του Συνδέσμου του Πεκίνου SocialScienceCircles

Χριστόδουλος Κ. Γιαλλουρίδης Πρόεδρος Ελληνικού Ιδρύματος Πολιτισμού

Θύμιος Κοτζάς – Δήμαρχος Της Αρχαίας Ολυμπίας

Παρουσίαση δύο έργων τέχνης απο τον καλλιτέχνη Δημήτρη Μωραιτίδη και τονΙταλό καλλιτέχνη Πιστολέτο.

Παρουσίαση έκθεσης και βίντεο του έργουKids of Guernicaαπό την Οργάνωση Ποιείν και Πράττειν από τον Dr. Hatto Fischer και τον καλλιτέχνη Θωμά Οικονομάκο.

Μουσική σύνθεση Αλέξανδρου Χάχαλη σε σκηνοθεσία Δημήτρη Ζησόπουλου Έναέργο εμπνευσμένο από την προσπάθεια του ανθρώπου να κατακτήσει το Σύμπαν με την γνώση και την τεχνολογία

16.30: ξενάγηση στον αρχαιολογικό χώρο και στο αρχαίο Στάδιο της Ολυμπίας.

20.00’: δείπνο

 

 

4.30 Opening Ceremony at the Academy Auditorium

Chairman : Andreas Zaimis, Former Minister

Addresses

Dionyssis Gangas, Director of the International Olympic Academy

In greeting the participants of the Symposium, he pointed out to be at the ancient site which had a huge impact upon the Olympic Civilization should constitute a special experience. Of importance is when doing something like this, the International Olympic Academy does need and relies upon the support of the local government. So he wishes to welcome everyone and at the same time underline the expectation of a high level of discussion. For the location is indeed a unique place.

His brief greeting was followed by the showing of a short video about Olympic Education and how the Olympic Spirit has flourished ever since Coubertin founded the new Games in 1894.

The website of the International Olympic Academy is www.ioa.org.gr

Eleni Kountoura, Minister of Hellenic Tourism

Zou Xiaoli Ambassador of China

After seeing Olympia in the morning for the first time, he believes that China can make a contribution as shown during the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008, and which will be now another opportunity since the Winter Olympic Games shall also be held in Beijing in 2022.

Admittedly in thi world we all face many opportunities, but also challenges which include alienation, poverty, war etc. For this reason, dialogue is very important.

There is a point in history to be marked for when the Ancient Olympic Games were established, one can relate as well to thinkers who arose in China around the same time.

It is now 43 years since Greek-Chinese relationships have been conducted on an equal basis. They support each other. This relationship is indeed a vivid demonstration of dialogue and of the continuity of the Olympic spirit.

There is now under way a new project called the Silk Route and the Maritime Route. Both signify shared responsibilities as they are a gateway for trade and cultural exchanges.

Spyros Mercouris, President of HORIZONS – Human & Cultural Activities

When starting to think about this need for a constructive dialogue four year ago, he had not realized then how important it shall be for today and tomorrow. For the world has entered an ugly period of time. There is fanaticism, while all societies face problems with minorities and the flow of migrants. Everywhere there seem to be local uprisings and localised wars. We are going through a rough period of time. It can be called the age of violence and of barbarism. Archaeologists are saddened by the destruction of cultural heritage. There is a definite need for a constructive dialogue. We must proceed with this and make it become a part of our consciousness. The Symposium will have four thematic circles. They are

The last one is of particular interest as it poses the question as to what challenges for the future await us. Most recently, tremendous progress has been made in medical and space research. He wishes for a fruitful dialogue in all the sessions which shall follow.

Dr. Hatto Fischer will read a message of the President of the Irish Republic Mr.

Michael D. Higgins

                                

                                 Michael D. Higgins      Photo: Kostas Kartelias

Message from the President of Ireland

As President of Ireland, I would like to convey my warm greetings and best wishes to all of the participants in this Symposium on „The Need for a Constructive Dialogue between Peoples and Culture and the Olympic Idea.“

 

I believe the theme of your Symposium is most timely and the Programme for this event addressed many of the most pressing issues facing European and global society at this time. Throughout my Presidency, I have spoken on many occasions of the power and centrality of culture an of the urgend need to craft a new discourse in Europe where the ideas of culture, economy, society and ecology can be rebalanced – and rebalanced in a way that is ethical. It is especially appropriate that your Symposium should take place in Greece, with its unparalleled intellectual and cultural heritage and its central place in the history of democracy. I wish you well in your important discussions and I look forward to receiving and reading the outcomes of your deliberations.

Michael D. Higgins

President of Ireland

Uachtarain na hEireann

Μήνυμα απο τον Πρόεδρο της Ιρλανδίας

Ως Πρόεδρος της Ιρλανδίας, θα ήθελα να μεταφέρω τους θερμούς χαιρετισμούς και τις καλύτερες ευχές μου σε όλους τους συμμετέχοντες στο παρόν Συμπόσιο με τίτλο «Η ανάγκη για Διάλογο μεταξύ των λαών και των πολιτισμών και η Ολυμπιακή Ιδέα».

Πιστεύω οτι το θέμα του Συμποσίου σας είναι πολύ επίκαιρο και το πρόγραμμά του αγγίζει πολλά απο τα πλέον επείγοντα ζητήματα που αντιμετωπίζουν η Ευρωπαϊκή και η διεθνής Κοινότητα αυτόν τον καιρό. Καθ΄όλη τη διάρκεια της προεδρίας μου, έχω επανειλημμένα μιλήσει για τη δύναμη και την κεντρική σημασία του πολιτισμού και για την επείγουσα ανάγκη να οικοδομηθεί ένας νέος δημόσιος λόγος στην Ευρώπη στον οποίον οι έννοιες του πολιτισμού, της οικονομίας, της κοινωνίας και της οικολογίας να ξαναβρούν την ισορροπία τους – και κατά τέτοιο τρόπο ο οποίος να είναι συγχρόνως ηθικός. Είναι ιδιαίτερα σημαντικό που το Συμπόσιό σας λαμβάνει χώρα στην Ελλάδα, με την ασύγκριτη πνευματική και πολιτισμική της κληρονομιά και την κεντρική της θέση στην ιστορία της δημοκρατίας. Εύχομαι κάθε επιτυχία στις σημαντικές συζητήσεις σας και προσδοκώ να λάβω και να διαβάσω τα αποτελέσματα των διαβουλεύσεών σας.

 

Michael D. Higgins
Πρόεδρος της Ιρλανδίας

Translated by Anna Arvanitaki

 

 

Liang Lixin, Head of the Chinese delegation and Vice President of Beijing Federation of Social Science Circles

It is a pleasure for him to speak at this Symposium. He wishes to begin with a statement that politics is a most complicated of all human affairs but it is human activity at the highest level. As such politics is an abstract concept to which thinkers have contributed. For example, different views exist about the nation, and to these different views various scholars have contributed. In short, there is no absolute answer. What we are discussing here is, therefore, what tremendous influence politics has upon daily life and the economy. Admittedly, politics has caused also wars, and that since antiquity. However, it can feed as well into development and in the light of world history contribute as much to the creation of a stable environment. The latter is very important for development.

What particular political direction any development takes, that is of utmost importance for culture and economics. As a matter of fact, they are dialectically connected. Economic interests and political systems determine altogether social relationships.

Modern China is taking a socialist tack to provide sound governance. This means any sort of changes are in line with what the economy and society require. In wishing to strengthen economic relationships, the Chinese government has founded the Asian Investment Bank to reinforce economic and social relations in the Asian region and with other regions. It is to the benefits of the Chinese people and of the world. Political stability is essential and, therefore, Beijing follows a national strategy. We understand our strategy as a wish to protect the environment and to improve in all sectors living and working conditions. There is a need for a stable and healthy political environment.

We have been studying these issues over many years. We have countless higher educational institutions with many able professors and able research centres to study the interplay between politics and economy. Most of the research is centred mainly around the issue of state governance . Thus we look at basic concepts such as state governance in order to find out how we can stabilize the system. In that function the role of the party is very important. We have proceeded to redesign the entire structure, in order to know how to link to the lower levels and how to integrate different powers. This entails training of professional politicians, civil servants, etc. as this is important on how we combat corruption and accelerate legislation, so as to know how we can open up state governance to the public.

After many years of economic growth, we are experiencing right now a slump. So we need to look at the high tech-sector and what consumption level of society can be sustained over time. We look at the agricultural sector.

China has to find new areas of development, to open doors and to look outwards. We need to know how to take advantage of the full potential of our capabilities, and to know if the direction of development we take, that it is the only suitable route!

Now in my field, social sciences, our NGO was established in 1983 and entails history, linguistics, philosophy etc. It is a network of many research centres and individual members who undertake every year several hundred research projects. All of them deal with Beijing as nodal point of commerce. Lately we try to find out how this is linked to the suburbs and local levels on the periphery.

I should stress the fact that culture plays an important role as third pillar

We can respond to the cultural requirements of our people.

Greece has a wonderful culture. In Beijing, we have undertaken many cultural events, in order to explain political and economic development.

It is important to provide answers to questions posed by the Social Science.

In Beijing, society is stable. Significant is that we just won the bid for the Winter Olympic Games. Here, at this symposium, we find ourselves at the birthplace of the Olympics. So on behalf of our Association, we like to invite all participants to visit us.

Christodoulos K. Yiallourides, President of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture

Thymios Kotzas Mayor of the City of Olympia

 

Presentation of two artworks by the artist Dimitris Moraitidis and the Italian artist Pistoleto.

Presentation of the Kids' Guernica - Guernica Youth exhibition by the Organization Poiein and Prattein, Dr. Hatto Fischer and the artist Thomas Oikonomakos

             

              Hatto Fischer                          Photo: Thomas Economacos

For more information see

"The non-governmental organization, Poiein Kai Prattein “Create and Do” enriches the symposium with the exhibition “Kid’s Guernica - Guernica Youth”. The basic idea is that children paint a peace mural on a canvas the same size as Picasso’s Guernica. Picasso is a giant. Giant of the arts but also a giant of thought. He could with a brush put on canvas all his artistic and political sentiments. Love, life, fear, death and barbarism. Guernica has become a symbol of the horror of war. Children and young people are also small giants of art. They paint spontaneously what they feel without being intimidated by various outside influences. The imagination of children and of young people is fresh. They feel and live intensely pain and joy. Their hand runs freely to paint their truth. The result is fantastic. Full of colour and of expression. Children from Izmir, Turkey and Chios, Greece painted together. They do not want war, they want peace. The dialogue between cultures starts with children.

Spyros Mercouris

Athens 15.8.2015

 

15.08.2015 - KIDS’ GUERNICA- Τα παιδιά της Guernica

 

Η μη κυβερνητική οργάνωση ΠΟΙΕΙΝ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΑΤΤΕΙΝ “Create and Do” που είναι «Δημιούργησε και Δράσε», εμπλουτίζει το συμπόσιό μας με μια έκθεση της “Guernica” και με ένα μικρό φιλμ . Η βασική ιδέα είναι οτι παιδιά και νέοι ζωγραφίζουν μια τοιχογραφία σε καμβά με το ίδιο μέγεθος του πίνακα Guernica του Picasso.

 

Ο Picasso είναι ένας γίγας. Γίγας της τέχνης αλλά και της σκέψης και του στοχασμού. Μπορούσε με το πινέλο του να ζωγραφίσει στον καμβά όλα τα καλλιτεχνικά και πολιτικά του αισθήματα. Αγάπη, ζωή, φόβος, θάνατος και βαρβαρότητα. Η Guernica του Picasso έγινε σύμβολο της φρίκης του πολέμου. Παιδιά και νέοι είναι και αυτοί μικροί γίγαντες της τέχνης. Ζωγραφίζουν αυθόρμητα ότι αισθάνονται χωρίς προκατάληψη και φόβο απο διάφορες εξωτερικές επιρροές. Η φαντασία των παιδιών και των νέων είναι πηγαία. Ονειρεύονται. Εχουν οράματα. Αισθάνονται και ζούνε έντονα τον πόνο και τη χαρά. Το χέρι τους τρέχει ελεύθερο να ζωγραφίσει την αλήθειά τους. Το αποτέλεσμα είναι φανταστικό. Γεμάτο χρώμα και έκφραση. Παιδιά απο τη Σμύρνη, Τουρκία και Χίο, Ελλάδα ζωγράφισαν μαζί. Δεν θέλουν πόλεμο, θέλουν ειρήνη.

 

Ο διάλογος μεταξύ πολιτισμών ξεκινάει με τα παιδιά.

 

Σπύρος Μερκούρης

 

 

 

Musical composition by Alexandros Hahalis directed by Dimitris Zisopoulos. A musical piece inspired by the human effort to conquer the universe with knowledge and technology.

16.30 Guided tour to the archaeological sites and the museum

                         

                           The steer as cultural artefact

 The Olympic Stadium of Ancient Olympia

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