Visit of Harvard Women's Water Polo team to Greece

January 19, 2024

A group of young women athletes wearing their teams' colors along with their coaches posing in front of an indoor swimming pool.

The Harvard University Women's Water Polo team successfully concluded its visit to Greece, which included daily training sessions, visits to archaeological sites and other places of interest, and a standout friendly game against the Women's Under-19 National Team of Greece on January 12. Post-game, the team enjoyed a meeting and dinner with members of the Harvard Club of Greece. The Club's Board was represented by Marianna Athanasiadou, Secretary, and Kalliopi Trapali, Member.

On January 13, the group participated in an engaging meeting with representatives of the Olympiacos Piraeus Women's Water Polo team. Harvard coaches and athletes had the opportunity to delve into discussions about the sport and its challenges with the Olympiacos delegation, which consisted of Dimitrios Kravaritis, Head Coach; Vasilios Koundourakis, Assistant Coach; Konstantinos Gouras, Board Member; and Alexandra Kalogera, Team Manager.

Continuing their trip, on January 14, the Harvard Women's Water Polo team visited Nafplio and the facilities of CHS Greece. Following a guided tour of Mycenae, the coach, his assistants, and the student-athletes were welcomed and shown around our Center by Managing Director Christos Giannopoulos along with Curricular Development Manager Matina Goga. The visit included a discussion about the Center's history and activities and the exchange of memorable gifts.

Afterward, the group visited the Nafplio Swimming Pool, where they met with young athletes from the local water polo team. The Nautical Club of Nafplio, represented by President Evangelos Bounos, Coach Anja Skibba (former head coach of Germany's Water Polo Women), Water Polo Curator Alexandros Rodopoulos, and the Club's member Kostas Cheliotis, extended a warm welcome to the Harvard group.

The excursion wrapped up with a stroll through the charming narrow streets of Nafplio before the group departed for Athens with the shared wish of returning soon.

Young women socializing in a relaxed atmosphere of sun-lit room with large windows.

CHS Greece contributed to the planning and implementation of these meetings and events, with active involvement from its Managing Director, Christos Giannopoulos. Evan Katsarelis, CHS Greece Programs and Events Manager, and Matina Goga, Curricular Development Manager, were also involved in Athens and Nafplio, respectively. We would like to thank all those who contributed to the success of this visit, especially the President of the Hellenic Water Polo Coaches Association, Mr. Lambros Anastasopoulos, all the teams that met with and/or competed against the Harvard team, the Harvard Club of Greece, and of course our coach, Ted Minnis, his associates, and the student-athletes of the University, who visited our country from January 9 to 15.