In a significant initiative aimed at highlighting the history, culture, and great athletic tradition of Rhodes, the Rhodes Lions Club is moving forward with the creation of the “Rhodian Olympians Column – The Diagorides Family.”
The history of Rhodes is inextricably linked to Greek culture, education, athletics, and the great Panhellenic games of antiquity. A significant initiative by the Rhodes Lions Club aims to highlight this unique historical legacy through the creation of the “Rhodian Olympians Column – The Diagoridis Family.”
This initiative is part of the Club’s long-term plan to promote the history and culture of Rhodes to its residents, as well as to the millions of visitors who come to the island each year.
The initiative dates back to 2000, when the Club announced the construction of the “Diagoras’ Triumph Complex.” The project was completed, and the unveiling ceremony took place on July 12, 2004, on the eve of the Olympic Flame’s arrival in Rhodes.
Subsequently, starting in 2002 and for several years, the Club continued to work on the idea of highlighting the island’s great athletic tradition. In recent years, these efforts have led to the Archaeological Service’s approval of the construction of a column dedicated to the Olympic champions of Rhodes.
The President of the Rhodes Lions Club, Mentos Zoannou, has made the completion of this project a priority for his term and has formed a committee to carry out the work.
The committee includes Evagoras Nikolaou, Chair of the project’s Construction Committee; Athanasios Kossioris, Vice Chair; Stefania Adamaki, Member, and Nikolaos Farmakidis, as an external consultant.
The Committee has already finalized its proposal and submitted it to the Head of the Department of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities and Museums, Ms. Eleni Farmakidou. The proposal includes a detailed architectural study, as well as an informational text on the ancient Olympic Games and the Rhodian Olympic champions.
Of particular interest is the plan to create a QR code.
After the text has been edited and approved by the Archaeological Service, the material will be converted into a QR code and affixed to the column. This way, every visitor will be able to use their cell phone to read the history of the ancient Olympic Games and the Rhodian Olympic champions in the language of their choice.
At the same time, an informational brochure containing the QR code is scheduled to be sent to Greek associations abroad, to schools in the Dodecanese through the Directorate of Secondary Education, and will also be posted online and at “Diagoras” Airport.
In this way, the history of Rhodian athletes will not be confined to a single monument but will be digitally accessible to visitors from around the world.
The “Column of Rhodian Olympians – Diagorides Family” thus aims to become yet another landmark for Rhodes, reminding us that some 2,500 years ago, Rhodian athletes competed in the Olympic Games and left their mark on the history of Greek athletics.
A history worth knowing. And above all, a history the whole world should know.