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International Symposium
“The need of a constructive dialogue between peoples and cultures
and the Olympic idea”
Under the auspices of the International Olympic Academy
1-7 September 2015, Ancient Olympia
Organisers: HORIZONS – Human & Cultural Actions
Co-Organisers: Beijing NGO Association for International Exchanges
Greek National Tourism Organization
Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation
Hellenic Foundation for Culture
Department of Mediterranean Studies – University of the Aegean
Foundation for Mediterranean Studies
Greek – China Link
Tuesday, 1st September 2015
Arrival and overnight stay in Athens
Wednesday , 2nd September 2015
08.30 Departure to Ancient Olympia
12.30 Arrival
13.00 Lunch
14.30 Opening Ceremony at the Academy Auditorium
Chairman : Andreas Zaimis, Former Minister
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Addresses
Dionyssis Gangas, Director of the International Olympic Academy
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 Deputy Director of the Research Center of
Beijing Olympic City Development Association
Christodoulos K. Yiallourides, President of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture
Thymios Kotzas Mayor of the City of Olympia
Αpostolos Katsifaras Prefect of West Greece
Presentation of an artwork by the artist Dimitris Moraitidis
Presentation of the exhibition and video of the Kids of Guernica- Guernica Youth by the
Organization Poiein and Prattein by Dr. Hatto Fischer, the artist Thomas Oikonomakos and
Spyros Mercouris .
Musical composition by Alexandros Hahalis 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
Thursday, 3rd September
08.00 – 09.00 Breakfast
Politics, Economy and Culture
09.00 – 11.00
Chairman : Ambassador ad hon. Alexandros Mallias
Theodoros Pangalos, former Vice President and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Hellenic Government.
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Dusan Sidjanski, Professor Emeritus, University of Geneva, Honorary Chairman of the
European Cultural Centre, former Special Adviser to the President of the European
Commission from 2004-2014, Member of the Board of the Latsis Foundation Switzerland.
Liang Lixin, Head of the Chinese delegation and Vice President of Beijing Federation of Social
Science Circles
Baron Robert Skidelsky, Emeritus Professor, Warwick University, Biographer of Keynes
11.00 Coffee Break
11.30 – 13.30
Nikos Mouzelis, Emeritus Professor of sociology, LSE
Thanos Skouras, Professor Emeritus of Economic Theory of the University of Athens
Prof. Agni Vlavianos Arvanitis, President and Founder, Biopolitics International Organisation
13.30 – 15.00 Lunch
Chairman : Andreas Zaimis, Former Minister
15.00 – 16.30
Ioannis Seimenis, president of the department of the Mediterranean studies, University of
the Aegean
Harry Tzalas, Historian, President of “The Hellenic Institute for the Preservation of Nautical
Tradition”.
Junqing Wu, Historian, institute of Historical Research, London, UK, expert on Chinese
religion.
16.30 Break
16.45 – 17.30 Discussion
20.00 Dinner
Friday, 4th September
08.00 – 09.00 Breakfast
Art and Culture
09.00 – 11.00
Chairman : Andreas Zaimis, Former Minister
Angelos Delivorias, former director of the Benaki Museum.
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Wang Changhong, director of the Social Work Department at Beijing Disabled Persons’
Federation, specializing in design, promotion and evaluation of cultural and sport
programmes for the disabled population and social assistance and engagement policies.
Mohamed Awad, professor of Architecture, University of Alexandria; Consultant to the
Alexandria and Mediterranean Research Centre at the Library of Alexandria.
Fotini Anastassiou, PhD in Linguistics, Member of the International Association of
Multilingualism.
11.00 Coffee Break
11.30 – 13.15
George Manginis, lecturer for the art history contextual course, New College of Humanities,
UK
Wolf-Dieter Heilmeyer, Emeritus Professor of Classical Archaeology
Nikos Georgakellos, Engineer, independent researcher, writer. Greece
13.15 – 15.00 Lunch
Chairman : Ambassador (ad Hon.) Alexandros Mallias
15.00 – 16.30
Chico Sciuto, Architect, Professor of Mathematics, writer, researcher, Member of the
Accademia Di Napoli.
Dimitrios Fais, Architect, Aesthetics and Epistemology PhD candidate- University of Athens.
Shelley Wachsmann, Professor at the Institute of Nautical Archaeology at Texas A&M
University.
Break
16.45 – 17.30 Discussion
Saturday, 5th September
08.00 – 09.00 Breakfast
Olympism and Culture
09.00 – 11.30
Chairmen : Spyros Mercouris & Konstantinos Zaimis
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Dionyssis Gangas, Director of the International Olympic Academy
Spyros Mercouris, President of the HORIZONS – Human & Cultural Activities
Constantinos Filis, Director of the International Centre for the Olympic Truce
Eleftherios Diamantaras, Researcher of history of Philosophy, writer, member of the
Academy of Philosophy of Naples
Li Jinghong, Deputy Director of the Research Centre of Beijing Olympic City Development
Association
Christian Kirsch, initiator and founder of the International Delphic Council
Ramesh Prasana, IDC Deputy Secretary General, Advisor to India, Co-Founder of the Delphic
Council Asia
11.30 Break
11.45 – 13.00 Discussion
13.30 Lunch
Research for the Universe – a challenge for future generations
Chairmen : Spyros Mercouris & Konstantinos Zaimis
15.00 – 17.00
Dionyssis Simopoulos, former director of the Eugenides Foundation Planetarium
Stavros Katsanevas, Professor / Director Astroparticule et Cosmologie (APC), France
Wang Yifang, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
(SKYPE connection)
17.00 Break
17.15 – 18.00 Discussion
18.00 – 19.00 Conclusions and Resolutions
20.15 Dinner
Sunday, 6th September
9.00 Departure for Athens
20.00 Reception at the Museum of Cycladic Art
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