On May 14, Metropolitan Ioannis of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Zambia and Mozambique met with Alfred Foloko, the president of the National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ), at the Metropolis in Lusaka.
They discussed their successful collaboration on a week-long celebration of Olympic values and the Olympic Truce.
This celebration included:
- Opening ceremony at the National Assembly
- A brass band parade
- A Greek cultural dance
- The planting of an olive tree from Olympia, symbolizing peace, Speaker Hon. Nelly Mutti, attended the ceremony.
- Workshop at the OYDC in Lusaka: Focusing on promoting Olympic values
- Presentation of the Olympic Truce Document: At the United Nations offices in Lusaka, emphasizing the importance of a ceasefire before, during, and after the Olympic Games.
- Visit by Two Greek Gold Medalists: They educated pupils in government schools and presented medals and certificates.
The leaders discussed potential partnerships to promote Olympic values in Zambia.
President Foloko praised Metropolitan Ioannis for his innovative approach to combining sports and spirituality.
They agreed to draft and sign a memorandum of understanding to guide future collaborations.
Metropolitan Ioannis congratulated President Foloko on an award from President Hakainde Hichilema and presented him with a commemorative medal marking 60 years of Zambian independence, reflecting their shared commitment to promoting Olympism in Zambia.
