Greece Celebrates UNESCO Recognition for Mount Olympus

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Mount Olympus has officially joined the UNESCO World Heritage List, gaining international recognition as a mixed cultural and natural heritage site during a ceremony in Litochoro at the foot of the legendary mountain.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended the ceremony at the headquarters of the Management Unit of the Olympus National Park, where he described Olympus as far more than Greece’s highest mountain.

“Every time one finds oneself near Olympus, one immediately feels that one is not simply encountering the highest mountain of our country, but the awe of a symbol of universal culture, where Greek mythology intersects with world history and natural beauty with rare biodiversity,” Mitsotakis said.

He described the UNESCO inscription as a moment that vindicated the character of the iconic mountain.

“Before Olympus, only two mixed properties were registered: Meteora and Mount Athos. Now we have three,” he said, highlighting their combined ecological and cultural importance.

Mitsotakis recalled asking Culture Minister Lina Mendoni early in his first term why Olympus had not already appeared on the UNESCO World Heritage List. He said she told him that “no one had dealt with it until now”.

“This government dealt with it systematically and achieved this very important goal,” he said.

The prime minister also stressed that UNESCO recognition creates an ongoing responsibility for the Greek state to protect Olympus and preserve its cultural identity.

“The UNESCO seal is a lasting reminder of the responsibility undertaken by the state, with the aim of effectively safeguarding this unique ecosystem and keeping its cultural identity alive,” Mitsotakis said.

He pointed to Greece’s recent UNESCO successes, including Olympus, Zagori and the Minoan Palatial Centres, and said the government’s next objective was to secure the inclusion of Ancient Nicopolis on the World Heritage List.

Mitsotakis also linked the recognition of Olympus to the government’s broader regional policy, arguing that citizens outside Greece’s major urban centres should have comparable opportunities.

He said the government wanted to reduce geographical distances and, consequently, social inequalities. He also cited the decision to increase the heating allowance during the energy crisis to provide greater support to regions where households face higher heating needs during winter.

“In a troubled world, Greece remains steady in its course and choices,” Mitsotakis said. “Despite the difficulties, it draws strength from the achievements of its citizens and optimism from the fresh air of the peaks. It thus remains firmly on the path of progress it has chosen, with confidence, continuity and consistency.”

A giant screen beside the prime minister’s podium displayed the message: “2,918 metres of pride: Global recognition and responsibility for the future.”

Protecting Olympus

Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou and Culture Minister Lina Mendoni also addressed the ceremony, focusing on the future protection of the Olympus National Park.

“We want Olympus to remain a protected, accessible and safe destination,” Papastavrou said. “Olympus is a place where nature connected with culture and culture with nature, creating a myth.”

Mendoni said the UNESCO inscription confirmed what Greeks had known and felt for thousands of years.

“Olympus is not simply the highest mountain. It is a timeless symbol of Greek culture, a landscape where nature, myth, history and human creativity are inseparably connected,” she said.

She described the UNESCO recognition as the beginning of a new global responsibility for the mountain.

George Koumoutsakos, Greece’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, presented Mitsotakis with the official certificate confirming Olympus’ inscription.

He called the UNESCO decision historic, saying Olympus had gained the recognition that the international community owed it.

Dion-Olympus Mayor Evangelos Gerioliolios also addressed the ceremony.

At its conclusion, the authorities signed a €7 million programme agreement for an integrated programme to protect and promote Olympus. The initiative forms part of a broader €13 million package of additional programmesdesigned to create a coordinated plan for the mountain.

Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Thanasis Kontogeorgis, Deputy Interior Minister for Macedonia and Thrace Kostas Gioulekas, MPs, mayors and representatives of local authorities also attended the ceremony.

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