To the Editor:

To my Hellenes, Phil-Hellenes, Olympians, and to the world audience in the spirit of the Olympic Games, Paris 2024, that we proudly witnessed, as the most celebrated spectacle on the international stage, it is most important that we pay tribute to this 3,000-year-old event with its origins in Olympia, Greece, in 776 BC, and to Mr. Coubertin the noble Frenchman, who is the father of the modern Olympic Games, and the distinguished promoter of the ‘Anagenesis’ in 1896 in Athens, Greece. There is no other venue that merits the peaceful participation of over 10,000 athletes from over 200 nations. Accordingly, it is not only to honor these talented athletes and their tireless, passionate efforts to be rewarded by their well-earned medals of gold, silver or bronze, but the higher honor of being the ambassadors of international peace. It is by their dutiful acceptance to abide by the Olympic Oath- in their quest to honor the Olympic Truce.

This is the paramount experience of our young people by their highest human, artistic, physical performance, instead of wasting their lives tragically in wars in Ukraine or Gaza or elsewhere on this earth.

It is also the appropriate time for the Hellenic flag to re-invent itself by honoring past historical accomplishments by adding at least two significant symbols; the Golden Macedonian Star, in honor of Alexander the Great on the white cross, and the Classical Ionic Column, namely the staff, also in metallic gold. The origin of the current national flag is a testament to the warriors of the revolution of 1821 who liberated the Greeks from the Ottomans after over 400 years of occupation. The flag is certainly a proud symbol in blue and white for over 200 years- it is appropriately well-designed. Perhaps, now is the time to honor the founders of the Olympic Games by association as well, and the many generations who persevered, advanced and highlighted the beauty of the Hellenic Ideal!

The current Hellenic flag could be modified to include symbols of the glorious past of the Ancient Greek civilization to fly over public buildings in Greece and overseas at the Greek Consulates and Embassies along with the Olympic flag.

As a proud member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and soon-to-be member of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, I appreciate your input and your serious consideration on this urgent matter of my concern on the modification of the Hellenic National Flag. My email: [email protected] and [email protected].

Vassilis G. Tourikis

Anacortes, WA