Shipsoccer Event Kicks Off Posidonia Exhibition

7/6/2010

Football feast attracts 28 teams and 280 competitors

A total of 28 teams participated in the 2nd Posidonia Shipsoccer five-a-side football tournament which was held at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium on the eve of the 22nd Posidonia Exhibition which starts today. The event gathered some 400 shipping industry executives in what George Gabriel, Deputy Chairman of Golden Union described as a ‘networking institution designed to create ties between executives of the global maritime community.’

“Posidonia is the world’s most important shipping event providing a platform to the best-of-breed maritime companies to network and discuss and conduct business and helps Greece to showcase its potential and promote its image and tourism attractions,” he said.

While Gabriel failed to propel his side to victory, the Diamantis Pateras Maritime Ltd team lifted the trophy which was presented to their captain by Paul Lowther, Global Marketing Communications Manager, Castrol Marine, the tournament’s gold sponsor.

“Football is a new way to talk to our customers as it is a platform which creates the link between analysis and technology and how we apply it to develop products for our clients,” said Lowther.

“Castrol is a committed and passionate supporter of football and our FIFA 2010 World Cup sponsorship will continue with the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Shipping is a key industry sector for Castrol Marine and besides the Posidonia ShipSoccer tournament, we have also sponsored similar events this year in the UK, Hong Kong and South Africa in the presence of Castrol football ambassadors like Terry Venables, Alan Shearer, Bryan Robson and Lothar Matthaeus. Marcel Desailly will visit Castrol’s stand at Posidonia exhibition to meet and greet our customers and emphasize the brand’s football heritage.”

Amongst the 28 teams which battled it out on the Karaiskakis turf, one comprised mainly members of one family, all employed by Tsalviris Salvage Group. Says Andreas Tsalviris, one of the three brothers in charge: “As a family we are all very active in various sports and we never miss an opportunity to participate, as teams or individuals, in such tournaments. The Posidonia ShipSoccer tournament was a fantastic event and we thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere and the team spirit that prevailed throughout. Posidonia is a great two-week affair that combines business and pleasure and brings together a huge variety of people from all over the world helping Greece to maintain its leading position in the shipping industry,” he said.

The Posidonia Shipsoccer Tournament was jointly organised by Posidonia Exhibitions S.A. and Filathlitiki Naftiliaki Enosi (F.N.E.).

Source: Posidonia Events