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International Symposium

“The need of a constructive dialogue between peoples and cultures

and the Olympic idea”

Under the auspices of the International Olympic Academy

1-7 September 2015, Ancient Olympia

Organisers: HORIZONS – Human & Cultural Actions

Co-Organisers: Beijing NGO Association for International Exchanges

Greek National Tourism Organization

Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation

Hellenic Foundation for Culture

Department of Mediterranean Studies – University of the Aegean

Foundation for Mediterranean Studies

Greek – China Link

Tuesday, 1stSeptember 2015

Arrival and overnight stay in Athens

Wednesday , 2nd September 2015

08.30Departure to Ancient Olympia

12.30Arrival

13.00Lunch

14.30 Opening Ceremony at the Academy Auditorium

Chairman : Andreas Zaimis, Former Minister

Addresses

Dionyssis Gangas, Director of the International Olympic Academy

Zou Xiaoli Ambassador of China

Spyros Mercouris, President of HORIZONS – Human & Cultural Activities

Dr. Hatto Fischer will read a message of the President of the Irish Republic Mr. Michael Higgins.

Liang Lixin, Head of the Chinese delegation and Deputy Director of the Research Center of Beijing Olympic City DevelopmentAssociation

Christodoulos K. Yiallourides, President of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture

Thymios Kotzas Mayor of the City of Olympia

Αpostolos Katsifaras Prefect of West Greece

Presentation of an artwork by the artist Dimitris Moraitidis

Presentation of the exhibition and video of the Kids of Guernica- Guernica Youth by the Organization Poiein and Prattein by Dr. Hatto Fischer, the artist Thomas Oikonomakosand Spyros Mercouris .

Musical composition by Alexandros Hahalis directed by Dimitris Zisopoulos. A musical piece inspired by the human effort to conquer Universe with knowledge and technology.

16.30Guided tour to the archaeological sites and the museum

20.00Dinner

Thursday, 3rd September

08.00 – 09.00 Breakfast

Politics, Economy and Culture

09.00 – 11.00

Chairman : Ambassador ad hon.Alexandros Mallias

Theodoros Pangalos, former Vice President and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Government.

Dusan Sidjanski, Professor Emeritus, University of Geneva, Honorary Chairman of the European Cultural Centre,formerSpecial Adviser to the President of the European Commissionfrom 2004-2014, Member of the Board of the Latsis Foundation Switzerland.

Liang Lixin, Head of the Chinese delegation and Vice President of Beijing Federation of Social Science Circles

Baron Robert Skidelsky, Emeritus Professor, WarwickUniversity, Biographer of Keynes

11.00Coffee Break

11.30 – 13.30

Nikos Mouzelis, Emeritus Professor of sociology, LSE

Thanos Skouras, Professor Emeritus of Economic Theory of the University of Athens

Prof. Agni Vlavianos Arvanitis, President and Founder,Biopolitics International Organisation

13.30 – 15.00Lunch

Chairman : Andreas Zaimis, Former Minister

15.00 – 16.30

Ioannis Seimenis, president of the department of the Mediterranean studies, University of the Aegean

Harry Tzalas, Historian, President of “The Hellenic Institute for the Preservation of Nautical Tradition”.

Junqing Wu, Historian, institute of Historical Research, London, UK, expert on Chinese religion.

16.30Break

16.45 – 17.30Discussion

20.00Dinner

Friday, 4th September

08.00 – 09.00Breakfast

Art and Culture

09.00 – 11.00

Chairman : Andreas Zaimis, Former Minister

Angelos Delivorias, former director of the BenakiMuseum.

Wang Changhong, director of the Social Work Department at Beijing Disabled Persons’ Federation, specializing in design, promotion and evaluation of cultural and sport programmes for the disabled population and social assistance and engagement policies.

Mohamed Awad, professor of Architecture, University of Alexandria;Consultant to theAlexandria and Mediterranean Research Centre at the Library of Alexandria.

Fotini Anastassiou, PhD in Linguistics, Member of the International Association of Multilingualism.

11.00Coffee Break

11.30 – 13.15

George Manginis, lecturer for the art history contextual course, New College of Humanities, UK

Wolf-Dieter Heilmeyer, Emeritus Professor of Classical Archaeology

Nikos Georgakellos, Engineer, independent researcher, writer. Greece

13.15 – 15.00Lunch

Chairman : Ambassador (ad Hon.) Alexandros Mallias

15.00 – 16.30

Chico Sciuto, Architect, Professor of Mathematics, writer, researcher, Member of the Accademia Di Napoli.

Dimitrios Fais, Architect, Aesthetics and EpistemologyPhDcandidate-University of Athens.

Shelley Wachsmann, Professor at the Institute of Nautical Archaeology at TexasA&MUniversity.

Break

16.45 – 17.30Discussion

Saturday, 5th September

08.00 – 09.00Breakfast

Olympism and Culture

09.00 – 11.30

Chairmen : Spyros Mercouris & Konstantinos Zaimis

Dionyssis Gangas, Director of the International Olympic Academy

Spyros Mercouris, President of the HORIZONS – Human & Cultural Activities

Constantinos Filis, Director of the International Centre for the Olympic Truce

Eleftherios Diamantaras, Researcher of history of Philosophy, writer, member of the Academy of Philosophy of Naples

Li Jinghong, Deputy Director of the Research Centre of Beijing Olympic City Development Association

Christian Kirsch, initiator and founder of the International Delphic Council

Ramesh Prasana, IDC Deputy Secretary General, Advisor to India, Co-Founder of the Delphic Council Asia

11.30Break

11.45 – 13.00 Discussion

13.30Lunch

Research for the Universe – a challenge for future generations

Chairmen : Spyros Mercouris & Konstantinos Zaimis

15.00 – 17.00

Dionyssis Simopoulos, former director of the Eugenides Foundation Planetarium

Stavros Katsanevas, Professor / Director Astroparticule et Cosmologie (APC), France

Wang Yifang, Institute of High Energy Physics, ChineseAcademy of Sciences

(SKYPE connection)

17.00Break

17.15 – 18.00Discussion

18.00 – 19.00Conclusions and Resolutions

20.15Dinner

Sunday, 6th September

9.00 Departure for Athens

20.00Reception at the Museum of Cycladic Art

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