The 1st triathlon race “The Castle Challenge” in Monemvasia, held on June 15 & 16, 2024, was crowned with great success. Through this event, Monemvasia emerges not only as an excellent tourist destination, but also as a point of reference on the sports map of major events.

The inspiration behind the competition was Mrs. Iota Limnaiou, General Manager of Quattro Suites with the full support of the hotel’s owner, Mr. Stefanos Vasilakos.

The idea was embraced by the Municipality of Monemvasia & thus the organization of “The Castle Challenge” was undertaken by the company Whynot, which specializes in this type of competition. The event was held under the auspices of the Peloponnese Region, the Ministries of Culture and Tourism, the EOT and the TOE.

Mr. Stefanos Vasilakos, owner of Quattro Suites, said: “We are delighted and honored to contribute as Gold Sponsors to The Castle Challenge 2024. Our support of this unique event reflects our commitment to promoting sport and the local community . We hope this event will inspire many to adopt a more active and healthy lifestyle, while also highlighting the beauty and history of our area.”

Apart from Quattro Suites which was the Gold Sponsor, there were several other sponsors who supported “The Castle Challenge” such as Vikos, Dole, Turbo, local businessmen and of course the Municipality of Monemvasia.

Mrs. Iota Limnaiou, General Manager of Quattro Suites said: “We are proud to have supported ‘The Castle Challenge’ and contributed to the promotion of Monemvasia as an ideal destination for sporting events. The success of the event shows the great potential of our region.”

The event included two sub-sports events that took place in the area of ​​Monemvasia. On Saturday June 15, swimming competitions were held, included in the WSL OpenWater league, with distances of 1500m and 3000m, as well as the Swim kids 300m for ages 8-14. On Sunday, June 16, triathlon and aquathlon competitions followed, with the Standard and Sprint triathlon competitions being part of the WTL – Triathlon league.

The organization would not have been possible without the valuable help of the volunteers, who with their passion and dedication ensured the smooth running of the games. More than 300 athletes from different age categories and countries participated, confirming the great interest and acceptance of the event.

Mrs. Panagiota Aliferi, Deputy Mayor of Culture, Sports, Social Policy, Education and Environment of Monemvasia stated: The Municipality of Monemvasia invests in alternative forms of tourism. Sports tourism is one of them! So, with great joy, we embraced the idea of ​​the director of the Quattro Suites hotel, Mrs. Limnaiou, and became the organizers of this great sporting event! I want, Ms. Aliferi continued, to thank the people and organizations that supported this effort! Our sponsors, volunteers who gave their souls to make everything perfect. The Police, the Port Authority, EKAV Molaon and of course all the residents of Monemvasia and the visitors, for the understanding they showed when the roads to Keramoti and Kastro had to be closed for a few hours!

“The Castle Challenge” proved that Monemvasia can create and organize promising competitions, offering unique sporting experiences in an impressive natural and historical environment. We look forward to the next events that will establish Monemvasia as a top destination for sports activities.

Mr. Stavros Christakos, Deputy Mayor D.E. of Monemvasia, said: “The excellent organization of THE Castle CHALLENGE in Monemvasia was, by common confession, extremely successful, with a large participation of athletes, volunteers and the local community. The magical images of the event, with the athletes at the Castle of Monemvasia and in the wider area, contribute significantly to the promotion of our region.

The Municipality of Monemvasia from the first moment embraced the event, participated financially and Monemvasia entered the map of major sporting events. Congratulations to the businesses in our area, the people who inspired and financially supported the event, such as Mr. Stefanos Vasilakos, owner of Quattro Suites”.

Athletes and Monemvasians were entertained with live music on Saturday night after the presentation of the race. The beautiful notes of the musical duo mesmerized everyone and it was a beautiful relaxing way for athletes and non-athletes to meet & get to know each other.

We note that Quattro Suites has been awarded the Bike Friendly Hotel label for the cyclist-friendly services it provides. Read more here.

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