STORY: Piraeus Container Terminal helps Greek Paralympic athlete achieve his dream
DATELINE: June 25, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:15
LOCATION: Athens
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Greek Paralympic athlete training
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Greek): GEORGE SFALTOS, Greek Paralympic athlete
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Greek): GEORGE SFALTOS, Greek Paralympic athlete
4. various of the NGO
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Greek): OURANIA ATHANASOPOULOU, President of the NGO "Love Care for Life"

STORYLINE:

Racing down the slope of Parnassos ski center in central Greece, alpine skier George Sfaltos is dreaming about winning the ticket to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games.

The 40-year-old Greek Paralympic athlete is training hard using a custom sit-ski wheelchair, donated to him last summer by Piraeus Container Terminal (PCT), a subsidiary of China's COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited.
   
Until last year, Sfaltos had been training using an old, borrowed sit-ski wheelchair.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Greek): GEORGE SFALTOS, Greek Paralympic athlete
"Without it, I would not even be able to do the training I need. Beyond that, with the company's commitment to financially supporting me on this journey, I feel a great honor and obligation to do my best."

After a car accident in 2009 that changed his life, Sfaltos said sports helped him regain confidence and become a valuable member of society again.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Greek): GEORGE SFALTOS, Greek paralympic athlete
"PCT came and really helps to make my dream come true. I would not be able to afford participating in skiing events, because it is a very expensive sport. It requires spending a lot of time abroad, because we do not have enough snow in Greece."

The donation came about through the local NGO "Love Care for Life," which since 2018 has been helping people with mobility difficulties.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Greek): OURANIA ATHANASOPOULOU, President of the NGO "Love Care for Life"
"They are by our side, and they give us strength to move forward, to help other people. Without their assistance, we would not be able to offer help."

With donations of some 40,000 euros over two years by PCT, the NGO has purchased wheelchairs and other valuable equipment for adults and children in need.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Athens.
(XHTV)