Sunday, June 29, 2014

Ωραίος ως Έλληνας: Whatever Happens next, Greece is Already a Winner and Yiorgos Samaras Wins OUR World Cup - the World Cup of Hearts!


This last week saw an amazing victory for Greece's Ethniki Ellados against the Ivory Coast at Brazil's World Cup, but the extraordinary gestures of kindness of Yiorgos Samaras, the player who took Team Greece to victory and all Greeks to seventh Football Heaven on Tuesday 24 June, are a tribute to the beauty and nobility of the human soul... something we don't always see at a football match at whatever level it is played! 



As Greeks all over the world celebrated Greece's victory, and shortly after this picture of Yiorgos Samaras comforting Team Ivory Coast's devastated goalie after the match did the rounds of the media, an even more touching story of Samaras and his young Irish Celtics fan, Jay Beatty, a young boy born with Down's Syndrome, came to touch our hearts, just as young Jay touched Samaras' heart. 

Jay and his hero: Go Sammy Go
 Samaras prepares for the penalty which will send Greece 
to the World's  Top 16



Jay celebrates  and his father Martin Beatty comments
It's not often you see Jay in Blue but he had to get a Greece T-shirt and he just loved Sammy's Goal...we will still be watching this at Christmas



Inspired and moved by the story, two young Greeks decided to set up a Facebook page O Jay Paei Mundial asking the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) to invite and finance Jay and his family to go to the World Cup in Brazil and watch Greece's  match against Costa Rica today. 

Before the end of the day 85,000 people had liked the page, adding their support, and Samaras himself had embraced the plan, sending out a personal invitation to Jay via video.


"Jay I want to thank you for the strength you give me. 
Your smile and your support give strength to everyone in the national team. 
Hope to see you soon, this shirt is for you.
 If you cannot make it we'll send it to you.
In the end, I want to say that I'm really proud that...
VERY, VERY proud that you're my friend, so...
 I hope to see you soon buddy".

The Hellenic Football Federation responded positively and invited Samaras' most fervent supporter but sadly the family was leaving on holiday to the USA and had to decline this unprecedented invitatio, saying ...

 Thanks everyone for all your lovely messages. This morning we got a call with a fantastic offer for us all to go to the World Cup to see the Greece game and Jays hero Samaras. unfortunately we were actually at the airport heading off on our family holiday when we got the call,so naturally we were unable to take up the offer and are so gutted but truly grateful that people would do this for Jay. We cannot believe that this has happened and are so humbled and would like to wish Greece all the best in the World Cup. Jay has just seen Samaras press statement and wanted to send one back. thank you everyone

Jay's Dad Martin filmed Jay's video response to Sammy

Good luck Sammy! 
I hope you win the World Cup. 
Sammy, I'm sorry I won't be there but I still love you very much and I hope you win.
C'mon Sammy!!!!  

 How it all started:
Samaras takes young Jay Beatty on the victory lap 
after the Celtics take the Scottish League title...
 We celebrated a bit too soon that Jay would be going to the World Cup, 
but never mind...

After the lights go out, the music stops and the curtain falls 
for Brazil's 2014 World Cup,
 these are the incredibly touching images that will remain with us, 
indelibly printed on our hearts... 
a legacy and a lesson in humanity and kindness.
 


Go GREECE! 
Good Luck today! 
But whatever happens next, 
Greece is already a winner and
 Yiorgos Samaras wins OUR World Cup - 
the World Cup of Hearts!
 

Καλή Επιτυχία!

  To young Jay, a big thank you,
you touched our hearts.

Jay is part of a group called Down's and Proud,
founded in October 2007 to help local children with Down’s syndrome overcome obstacles that may be in their way, and act as a Support for their families.

In Greece, to support families with children with Down's Syndrome, 
 you can contact Down.GR  founded in 1990.
 



At Global Greek World, We ♥ Greece...and it shows! 
 © GlobalGreekWorld 2014 All Rights Reserved

Saturday, June 28, 2014

GREECE is the Word! Our Global Greeks Tweet Greece's Amazing World Cup Victory!

Tuesday was a very special day for Greece and Greeks around the world! 

For the first time in its history Greece's National Team - Ethniki Ellados - 10 years after its incredible Euro 2004 win, qualified for the top 16 of the World's football greats in the World Cup in Brazil!

It was fantastic to see our Global Greeks from all over - from Media Mogul Arianna Huffington to up and coming Wimbledon Tennis Champion Nicholas Kyrgios  - take to twitter to share their joy.

We thought we would share a small selection of those tweets with our readers...starting with, who else but Arianna...
(The description under everyone's name is from their twitter account)
 

mother, sister, flat shoe advocate, sleep evangelist. author of THRIVE, 



2x NYTimes Best Selling Author. 
Star/EP of oxygen's Chasing Maria Menounos 


Alexi Lalas
Soccer Analyst, Slurpee lover & proud ginger. 
Size the day


Chef The Press Club restaurant


Nick Galis
Legendary Greek American Basketball Player


 Congratulations to the Greek National Team of football for the qualification to the 16 top teams of our planet. 
I wish them the best luck in this Mundial and to give pleasure to all the Greeks all around the world.

 Journalist, writer, producer, 
TV- & Radiohostess, human rights-activist. 
Greek-Swedish Citizen of the world


 Wall Street Journal reporter. 
Greek immigrant


Co-host and co-founder of TheStarters - a daily basketball show on NBATV



TV Radio Host journaliste - animateur TF1, Europe1


Greek Food Guru
Chef, TV Cooking Show Host, Cookbook Author
 Singer, Songwriter, Actress, TV Hostess


 Pastry chef, former Top Chef, lover of sweets, certified nutritionist, author of Sweet&Skinny, traveler, avid swimmer, and HuffingtonPost food blogger
  


 Michael Psilakis
 Greek-American Chef based in NYC. Owner of Kefi, Fishtag and MPTaverna. 
Co-Star of BBCAmerica's NoKitchenRequired
 


 Greek American Actress/ Producer/ Performer
ritawilson.com 


I do stand-up, I live in London, I'm Greek.
 I have superb delusions of grandeur. 
Solo show Feta With The Queen is in Greece right now.


Proud Greek Malaysian Australian professional tennis player from Canberra, 
former world junior no#1 & now aiming to conquer the ATP Tour.

 South African/Australian/Greek -Television - Music - Entertainment -The X Factor - Got Talent - International Executive


Public Affairs Strategist & Tactical Wiz, Founder/CEO of FORESIGHT Communications, 
Founder of RepowerGreeceInternational public diplomacy initiative



Our own victory tweet rejoicing at Greece's win when so many major European players were gone 


was preceded by our tweet with Samaras' goal...



and had been preceded by this one sending out positive vibes across the world! 

Go Greece!!!!
Whatever happens next we are all proud of you!
Εθνική Ελλάδος Γειά σου!
Καλή Επιτυχία!


At Global Greek World, We ♥ Greece...and it shows! 
© GlobalGreekWorld 2014 All Rights Reserved

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Bringing Home the Parthenon Sculptures: Sonia Theodoridou and Six Modern Day Caryatids Raise Awareness for their Return


Sonia Theodoridou and the six caryatids
Danae Filippa, Efstratia Hioti, Natalia Margomenou, Marina Triantafillou, Katerina Kakouri, Katerina Hintiraki, find their long lost sister...
a touching moment indeed.

On Saturday 7th of June 2014, Greece had its moment literally inside the Lion's Den - London's British Museum, when renowned Greek Soprano ΣΟΝΙΑ ΘΕΟΔΩΡΙΔΟΥ - SONIA THEODORIDOU together with six caryatids went to meet the one caryatid who is still separated from her sisters...

The reception was overwhelming, from the streets to the people who were visiting the museum, the emotion was palpable,many were moved to tears, including the security guards who were hostile at first...

 The journey begins in Athens...




On the London Underground on the way to the museum...
 


In the British Museum
Greek harmony...
The Niriidon Monument, stolen from Xantho in Lyceia


 In front of the stolen Parthenon Sculptures
A
moving moment...


 Greek harmony in motion...

 Leaving the museum after the triumph...


Hyde Park:
 Calling all people to stand in solidarity with Greece's Pilgrimage
 
As Sonia Theodoridou posted on her page on Facebook...
 'Αξέχαστη, θα μου μείνει η σιωπή που μας τύλιξε οταν μπήκαμε στο μουσείο. 
Οι χιλιάδες άνθρωποι που βρισκόταν εκεί, παραμέριζαν με δέος, να περάσουμε. 
Μόλις μας έβλεπαν, όλοι σιωπούσαν. Ακουγόταν μόνο τα "κλίκς" των φωτογράφων. Και οι φύλακες, που στην αρχή προσπάθησαν να μας εμποδίσουν, μετά παραμέρισαν και μας συνόδευαν καθ΄ ολη τη διάρκεια της παραμονής μας μέσα στο μουσείο, λέγοντας μάλιστα μερικοί στο Θεόδωρο, πως και αυτοί είναι υπέρ, στο να γυρίσουν τα γλυπτά στην Ελλάδα. ΕΧΘΕΣ ΓΡΑΦΤΗΚΕ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ. 
Σήμερα, σας πειμένουμε όλους τους φίλους του Λονδίνου, στην Αγία Σοφία στο Bayswater στις 13.00 '

The video below is from the very moving performance given by our modern day Caryatids outside St Sophia Greek Orthodox Church in Bayswater, on Monday 9th June, the Feast of the Holy Spirit - Του Αγίου Πνεύματος



Bravo Sonia,
Bravo Theodore,

Bravo Elda, 
Bravo  Danae, Efstratia, Natalia, Marina, Katerina, Katerina
Bravo to all those involved in this initiative!

It just proves that each of our Global Greeks are the best Ambassadors Greece has.

It just proves that every little bit helps.
Big oaks from little acorns grow, 
and anything each one of us who believes in this noble cause can do,
is great for this holy pilgrimage started by Melina Mercouri 


and continued every single day by all those of us who believe in it...
The Acropolis Museum has just had its 5th Birthday...
It has been waiting 5 years already... 
5 long years
Each spot is ready and waiting...

Let's Just do it!
Let's ALL help Bring them Back!  


At Global Greek World, We ♥ Greece...and it shows! 
© GlobalGreekWorld 2009-2017 All Rights Reserved

Monday, June 9, 2014

Photo of the Day: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at Inter-Faith Prayer for Peace in the World

 Photo credit: (AP Photo/Max Rossi, Pool)

 Showing the way forward - planting an olive tree for peace ...
Israeli President Shimon Peres, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, 
Pope Francis, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew




Photo credit: (AP Photo/Max Rossi, Pool)

Making history...
Israeli President Shimon Peres, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, 
Pope Francis, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas after
joining hands in a prayer for peace in the world 
at the Vatican yesterday, June 8 2014



At Global Greek World, We ♥ Greece...and it shows! 
 © GlobalGreekWorld 2014 All Rights Reserved

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