There are children of immigrants that gained many medals and other distinctions in sports and chose to wear the Greek flag on them. Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo were born in Greece. Their parents came from Nigeria trying to find a better future. They could no way imagine back then what this future would be. Giannis, from a small team in Zografou is now the leader of Milwaukee Bucks, an NBA team. Together with his brother Thanasis, they are also leading members of the Greek National Team. They are the most famous immigrant athletes in Greece but they are not the only ones.
Stefano Kapino is a goal keeper. He started from Panathinaikos and is now playing for Olympiakos. He is internationally known. He was born and raised in Greece but his parents come from Albania.
Similar are the cases of Panagiotis Kone and Elini Dimoutsos that are members of the Greek National Team in football, but were born in Albania and their parents migrated to Greece when they both were young children. Two more football athletes from Albania that chose the Greek colours are Andreas Tatos and Sotiris Ninis.
Sofoklis Skortsianitis’ father is Greek and his mother comes from Cameroon. Sofoklis was born in Cameroon, however he chose to play basketball for the Greek National Team. The swimming champion Neri Niagouara is born in Athens, her father is Greek and her mother comes from South Africa. Neri has taken part in many international athletic events wearing Greek colours!
Sports could not have got away from the multicultural evolution of Greek society. Modern Greece has embraced its immigrants and they are one with the country. We, at Immigrants Support Organization (OYM), support the families of all immigrants that live in Greece fighting for a better future. As Giannis Antetokounmpo once said: “Greek is anybody who feels and wants to be Greek”.
