Vergotis Foundation: Congratulations to Charis Alivizatos for a new Panhellenic Record and distinction

A significant success for Kefalonian sports is the new Panhellenic Record and the international distinction of Charis Alivizatos, an athlete of the Gymnastic Society of Kefalonia. The George & Mary Vergotis Foundation sent out a relevant press release, which we publish in its entirety.

Press Release

Congratulations to Charis Alivizatos

The Board of Directors (BoD) of the George & Mary Vergotis Foundation expresses its warm congratulations to Charis Alivizatos, his coach Nikos Metaxas, and the Gymnastic Society of Kefalonia (GE Kefalonias), which consistently and continuously introduces young people to classic athletics, and through their successes brings joy to all Kefalonians.

Firstly, BRAVO to Charis for his excellent performance at the Panhellenic Indoor Track and Field Championship, with four new personal records in the same competition, his jump of 2.25m – a new Panhellenic indoor track and field record for U20 which currently ranks him #2 in the world U20 rankings – and the silver medal in the Men's competitions, almost 4 months before turning 18. We wish Charis continued success, free from injuries, and hopefully a medal at the U20 World Championship in the summer!

We also congratulate coach Nikos Metaxas, jumps coach of GE Kefalonias, who has contributed significantly to Charis' successes. First of all, he realized and convinced Charis that by focusing on High Jump he would achieve significant successes. On this occasion, congratulations also to the entire core coaching team of GE Kefalonias, which includes Dionysis Metaxas (throws) and Vassilis Metaxas (sprints). It is no coincidence that GE Kefalonias consistently produces female and male athletes with successes in regional and panhellenic championships in the categories they compete in.

We note with particular satisfaction that the financial assistance consistently provided by the George & Mary Vergotis Foundation to the Youth Academies of GE Kefalonias from 2017 until today steadily raises the ranking of the sports club and has brought it to the 48th position among the approximately 350 track and field clubs in our country, while at the same time making the best possible use of the donation of the national benefactor and founder of the Foundation, George Ch. Vergotis – using the "Andreas Vergotis" stadium as its training ground and headquarters.

Many of our compatriots probably do not know that the Municipal Stadium of Argostoli "Andreas Vergotis" is a donation from George Ch. Vergotis to his birthplace. He fully funded the design and construction of the stadium, which was built in a marshy area of Koutavos, on fill from the debris of Argostoli from the 1953 earthquakes. The naming was in honor of his brother Andreas, who passed away in 1953 (not from the earthquake). The "VERGOTEIA" athletic games were organized for the first time by the local authorities in September 1958 – a practical thank you – to inaugurate the stadium. Since then, they have become a major annual sporting event in the Ionian islands and western Greece. They were successfully revived in 2015 by GE Kefalonias.

On this occasion, we congratulate the Municipality of Argostoli and its technical services, as well as the Regional Unit of Kefalonia, who persistently managed to overcome the problems in the contract for the installation of a new WA Mondo Sportflex 720 rubber track. The replacement of the new rubber track and the installation of this specific product not only prevents injuries, but will utilize a stadium of unique beauty, and will allow GE Kefalonias to organize not only the best "VERGOTEIA" to date, but a World Athletics meeting that will be discussed internationally and will highlight a different aspect and potential of Kefalonia in "sports tourism".

Congratulations again to Charis for his great success and distinction, and we wish for an ideal scenario: on May 16th, at "VERGOTEIA 2026" to set another new personal record so that we have the opportunity to admire and congratulate him in person.

For the BoD

Gerasimos N. Vergotis

President