New Year’s Cake Cutting Ceremony of the Gym and the Running Team of the Agricultural University of Athens

On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the New Year’s Cake Cutting Ceremony of the Gym of the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) and the university running team “AUA Running Team” was held at the AUA Gym.

Attendance was remarkably high, and emotion was evident throughout the event, as in addition to current students, many alumni responded promptly to the invitation and were present. A significant number of members of the University community also attended, representing all staff categories, including academic, administrative and technical staff, as well as cleaning and security services.

The event was honored by the presence of the Rector of the Agricultural University of Athens, Professor Spyridon Kintzios, and the Vice-Rector for Financial Affairs, Professor Thomas Bartzanas.

A special honor was the presence of the Rector of the Hellenic Open University, Professor Manolis Koutouzis, who is also a runner himself. In the context of the most recent Athens Authentic Marathon, he received the award on behalf of the Hellenic Open University, which achieved first place for group participation as the largest university delegation in the 5 km “Universities Night Run”.

The event was also attended by the Deputy Mayor of Marathon, Mr. Evangelos Kyparissis, accompanied by a large delegation from the historic sports club APS “Telmissos” of Marathon. Among them was the club’s President, marathon runner Mr. Vlasis Karavasilis, who was recently appointed Marathon Ambassador, undertaking an important role in the development of the running movement and in addressing physical inactivity among citizens.

The event was dedicated not only to celebrating the arrival of the New Year, but also to highlighting and rewarding the valuable contribution and collective effort of members of the University community in promoting Sports and Physical Activity.

During the event, medals, certificates of merit and trophies were awarded for last year’s team and individual championships, as well as honorary distinctions:

• to volunteer tennis coaches, who are agronomists, whose selfless contribution and passion made possible the delivery of many hours of tennis training to students and members of the University staff,
• to professors and students who served as referees in last year’s internal championships, contributing decisively to their successful organization,
• to runners, students and faculty members whose participation and effort promoted the athletic ideal and the spirit of cooperation.

The founding members of the Agricultural University of Athens running team “AUA Running Team”, Professor Dionysios Kalyvas and Associate Professor Konstantinos Soulis, addressed the audience and conveyed their wishes for the New Year.

All participants exceeded themselves, contributing to the best possible outcome and demonstrating in practice the power of collective effort.

                The event was coordinated by the staff of the AUA Gym, Physical Education instructors Polyxeni Tsaliangou and Georgia Athanassopoulou.