[english]

Hellenic Tennis Federation

The Hellenic Tennis Federation (HTF), as a member of the Olympic Movement, is the first of all National Athletic Federations in Greece to started its own actions for environmental protection and an end to poverty through its Green Tennis program. The spark for the development of the Green Tennis program was the Memorandum Collaboration between ATHENS 2004 and UNEP, which has signed at the Athens Olympic Complex on 2nd of June 2004. For the first time at Summer Olympic Games such a Memorandum has been signed which pushes forward the relationship between Sports and Environment. The aim was to push the environmental planning of sports and to show off the above relationship.

Accordingly the HTF has started its own effort for environmental protection and an end to poverty because it believes that besides the pursuit of athletic distinctions and the promotion of any specific sport, its role must also be social. Its aim is to become a very good example for its members in order to become sensitive to issues and to start taking specific actions to help solve global problems. No boundaries, no nations, no religions!

To reflect its environmental commitments, the HTF has developed a specific logo that combines the Federation's basic logo and an olive leaf that symbolizes Greek nature. Combined to resemble a tennis ball, it reflects the integral relationship between tennis and nature.

In order to increase environmental awareness and implement concrete actions, the Hellenic Tennis Federation have introduced a number of programs and taken a lead role in getting its message across at sporting events in Greece. These actions include:

-Participation in the national Red Tape Campaign, where event participants wear a red tape around their arm to signify their environmental commitment.
-Adoption of the UN's Poverty and Environment program.
-Forwarding e-cards on World Water Day 2005-as part of participation in the UN's Water Decade 2005-2015.
-Forwarding e-cards on Earth Day and joining organizations around the world in calling for protection of the Earth.
-Holding a Greek Environment Tournament on World Environment Day 2005.
-Recycling of old athletic equipment and publication of a Green Tennis booklet for the Greek Junior Championship 2005.
-Information on Green Tennis at the Davis Cup tie in Athens in June 2005, the National Men's and Women's Tennis Championships 2005, and the European Junior Individual Championships,
-Signing the Joint Declaration on Sports and Environment at the Sports Summit for the Environment (SSE), held at the World Exposition in Aichi on 30-31 July 2005.
-Collaboration with UNESCO on the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.

For more information on the Hellenic Tennis Federation contact at
info@greentennis.org
kemmanouilidou@greentennis.org
efoa@otenet.gr

LINK :
Hellenic Tennis Federation