Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great honor for me as President of the GNTO, to welcome the International Olympiad of Philosophy of 2010, organized by the International Federation of Philosophical Societies and UNESCO, and hosted this year in Greece, the birthplace of philosophy and civilization.
This is a rather innovative and pioneering approach concerning philosophy. The fact that the IPO is organized yearly in a different country empowers the exchange of ideas, the discussion over different theoretical issues of contemporary life, the development of critical and inquisitive thinking and the contact between students of different countries and civilizations, through the unique combination of tourism and culture.
The long-term goal of this venue is the promotion of the culture of philosophy throughout tourism and travelling, as a reflection of the ongoing lust of the citizens of the world to combine the spirit with the experience, as well as the exploration of mind through the delight of visiting the world.
In that perspective, the Greek National Tourism Organization stands ministrant to any organized and systematic promotion of the impeccable combination of culture and tourism, as the ultimate necessity and reply to the human entity as spirit and body.
It reflects the philosophy and mentality of the new Ministry of Culture and Tourism that strongly believes in the interaction and complementary function of these two aspects of modern life.
We support the parallel development and visualization of tourism through the human desire for cultural education and exploration and we vividly promote Greece’s incomparable advantage over this issue.
Our country’s unique combination of monumental preponderance and unfailing history, along with the natural mosaic of endless beauties and promising experiences, set our predominant advantage in visiting Greece.
As a matter of consequence, International Philosophical Approach could nowhere else be better hosted this year than under the shade our new Acropolis Museum, centre of inspiration, honor and memory to the ancient intellectualism.
The organization of the IPO hosted this year in Athens means a lot to everyone. Philosophy returns back to its birthplace.
Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Pythagoras, Parmenides, Heraclitus, Leucippus, are only some of the examples of those great Greek Intellects, who managed to advance thinking throughout centuries.
With the hope that the International Olympiad of Philosophy will continue its tasks with vigor and force, I wish to all participants great success and to have a real opportunity to ‘’live’’ the rhythm of modern Athina, as well as a chance to ‘’travel’’ back to the ancient Greece we all learnt to admire.
The President of G.N.T.O.,
Nicolas Kanellopoulos