This year, as every other year, on the 3rd & 4th of February, the heart of Combat Sports in Greece beat hard in the “ Dais ” Stadium in the premises of the Douka Private Schools in Polidroso-Marousi.
Over one thousand (1000) athletes of all age groups competed in Semi & Light Contact, in two of the most favorite and spectacular styles of Combat Sports and Martial Arts.
The Athens Challenge Tournament has evolved to one of the largest International Semi & Light Contact Championships that take place in Greece with top athletes from all over the world (U.S.A – U.K &rdashNorway &rdash Italy &rdash Germany &rdash Belgium &rdash Ireland &rdash Bulgaria &rdash Poland &rdash Hungary &rdash Cyprus. etc), and with co-organizers the Athens Prefecture as well as the Municipality of Chalandri, under the wing and the supervision of W.A.K.O.
The quality of the participating athletes, the Stadium, the six 7×7 competing areas, the fascinating interior design filled with balloons and flowers, the special electronic point and time meters, the large and beautiful trophies and medals. In addition, the black belt finals for the open and group categories which took place in one central terrene with all stadium lights off and special lighting effects of 10.000 watts, smoke and loud music accompanying the entrance of every athlete within the competing area. All the above gives us a flavor of the details that have made and make the Athens Challenge Tournament one of a kind.
In the picture above: Nick Memos, a real gentleman of fighting areas, promoter of the Athens Challenge
All black belt finals for the open and group categories were broadcasted through television thus proving the upcoming of these sports as well as the importance of this Championship.
It is vital to mention at this point that except from the U.S team (USA All Star Team), which is undoubtedly one of the best teams worldwide, at the moment, as well as the mixed Europe (SAP Team) all the rest of the athletes that have travelled from abroad for this Tournament belong to the National Teams of their countries.
The only weak point of the Championship was the fact that the number of athletes and most importantly the number of people who came to watch exceeded the capacity of the Stadium. Nevertheless, this is something that the organizers have already taken under serious consideration and are seeking to solve it for the next Athens Challenge Tournament. Our hope is that The Athens Challenge Tournament will evolve even more offering stronger and more intense emotions to all participants as well as to the audience. We hope that we will be able to bring in even more athletes, showing the best of Greek hospitality, Greek combat skills, our competing level but most importantly, to compete in fair play.
