Adelaide to seal sister-city agreement with Athens, strengthening cultural and climate ties

Adelaide is acceptable to formalise a sister-city statement with Athens, a determination that underscores the enduring power of the Greek-Australian assemblage successful South Australia and opens caller avenues for practice connected planetary challenges, peculiarly clime change.

The projected Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) stems from shared biology experiences. During a visit to Athens successful July 2023, Adelaide City Councillor Mary Couros witnessed firsthand the aggravated summertime vigor and widespread wildfires that plagued the Greek capital. These communal clime pressures person shaped the instauration of the MoU, with a strong absorption connected sustainability and biology collaboration.

Support for the statement has been robust connected some sides. Adelaide’s City Community Services and Culture Committee has endorsed the draught MoU, while the Athens Municipal Council has besides fixed its backing.

Federal MP Steve Georganas, a long-time advocator for person ties betwixt Greece and Australia, welcomed the move, calling it “long overdue.”

“It’s fantastic to spot some the City of Adelaide and the City of Athens taking this important adjacent step,” Georganas said.

“Adelaide has often been called the ‘Athens of the South’, a reflection of our longstanding taste ties dating backmost to the Don Dunstan era. This statement simply formalises what has ever been a strong and meaningful connection.”

Georganas noted that the sister-city narration has the imaginable to foster collaboration crossed a wide scope of sectors, including education, tourism, innovation, and connection preservation.

He hopes that his 4 meetings with Athens Mayor Harry Boukas whom helium described arsenic “deeply committed to biology issues” person helped to solidify the absorption and momentum of the partnership.

The inaugural has besides resonated with Adelaide’s Greek-Australian concern community. Restaurateur Andrew Papadakis, proprietor of Dino’s connected Hindley Street, pointed to the shared culinary civilization betwixt the two cities. He noted that nutrient and manner trends often determination successful some directions, citing Adelaide’s aboriginal adoption of the modern brunch question arsenic an power that aboriginal took basal successful Athens.

For Kosta Koutsonas, committee subordinate of the Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry South Australia (HACCI SA), the diverseness betwixt the two cities lone enriches the relationship.

“What we’re seeing is simply a taste renaissance for Greek Australians successful Adelaide,” Koutsonas said, adding that this concern offers a valuable accidental to observe differences while deepening shared taste roots.

Consul-General Alexandra Theodoropoulou highlighted the people-to-people connections astatine the bosom of the proposal, pointing to the galore Greek Australians serving successful nationalist roles crossed Adelaide. She sees important imaginable for practice successful education, research, tourism, language, and adjacent viticulture.

The last step successful formalising the sister-city narration rests with Adelaide’s Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith, who is expected to contiguous the MoU to the afloat City Council adjacent Tuesday.

“This is simply a important and meaningful step for Adelaide but particularly for us Greeks, who are incredibly arrogant of our heritage,” said Georganas.

“Thousands of South Australians travel to Athens each year, and for galore successful our community, Athens is much than a destination it’s a spot of heavy idiosyncratic and taste connection. With generations of Greek Australians present calling Adelaide home, this ceremonial designation of our ties with Athens is truly special.”