GCM’S Olympic Spirit Event - a Celebration of Unity

GCM’S Olympic Spirit Event - a Celebration of Unity

On Saturday, 23 November, the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) Schools came together in a remarkable celebration of unity and pride to honour the Olympic spirit and its values through a unique Olympiad event. Students, parents, and teachers united in an atmosphere filled with enthusiasm and emotion to celebrate a day of sport, unity, and Greek culture at the Box Hill Athletic Club Stadium.

Despite the heat, students from all GCM campuses gathered to mark the end of the school year with a memorable celebration of Greek heritage and the timeless ideals of Olympism. This year, the GCM Schools took a bold step by organizing their first-ever Greek School Olympic Spirit Event—a milestone that brought together students from all campuses in an inspiring display of collaboration and community spirit.

The day featured all the traditional elements of the Olympic Games, including opening and closing ceremonies, Olympic oaths and hymns, dances, songs, and, of course, competitions and awards. Highlights of the event included the lighting of the Olympic flame and its journey, the grand entrance of students carrying flags representing their campuses (each designed by the students themselves), and the emotional moment when younger students extinguished the Olympic flame. Teachers encouraged the students to "blow with all your strength, so that the message of unity and peace reaches the whole world."

One of the most moving moments occurred during the Cypriot dance, performed by students from all campuses united in one large circle as a tribute to the Island of Cyprus. The event concluded with two unforgettable songs performed by all students. The first, "A New Beginning," carried a message of unity and hope, while Dionysis Savvopoulos' "Ας κρατήσουν οι χοροί" reminded everyone present that "the communities of the Greeks create another galaxy."

The event was honoured by the presence of Lee Tarlamis, Government Whip in the Legislative Council; Maria Triantafyllou, Deputy Coordinator of the Education Office for Australia and New Zealand; Bill Papastergiadis, President of the Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria; and many members of the Community’s Board of Directors and Education Committee. Special thanks were extended to Aristos Panagakis, founder and President of the Australian Hellenic Organisation in Support of the Olympic Spirit and Ideal, for his presence and for generously donating the Olympic flag for the event.

Maria Bakalidou, Principal of the Greek Community of Melbourne Schools, shared her excitement: "We are thrilled with the result of this great team effort. It was a bold undertaking, and we overcame many challenges to bring this event to life. The joy and pride we felt from the messages of fair play, unity, and peace conveyed by our students were truly inspiring. This was a wonderful opportunity for us all to honour our rich cultural heritage and be inspired by the universal values of the Olympic spirit."

She concluded: "I would like to congratulate our students for their excellent participation, as well as our organizers, teachers, and volunteers for their heartfelt support in making this vision a reality."

This special event, showcasing the unity and spirit of the Greek community, has become a proud milestone for GCM Schools and a testament to the enduring legacy of Olympic ideals.