Dear Fathers, dear students, ladies and gentlemen, my dear Jennifer, I am so touched to be here again, after one year. And please allow me, first of all, to say that I will be returning, not in my capacity as a Minister, but for the years to come, there is an English saying, “where my hair would have grown thin”, but you understand I cannot say that as an expression.
Well, I have to say that St. Nicholas for us, for the Greek government, for the Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis is something very important. First of all, we would like to acknowledge what the Tsakos Foundation has done for St. Nicholas, and what Mytilineos has done for St.Nicholas. It is extremely important, extremely important, in Africa which is the fastest growing continent in the world, to have a good education. And what we are trying to do, dear Fathers, is not to change reality but just to set a small example. What is important is that it comes deep from everybody’s heart. And I am coming here also with a small donation which will allow the young to be constructive and also, more importantly, to make a basketball team. As you know, we Greeks are good at basketball. We have won the European championship. We have even won over the United States once. But there is a small request I would like to put to your kind judgment. I would please ask you for a name in that field. A name that unites Greece with Africa. I would be very proud if, when I come again, to see you playing on that basketball field, the name of the field would be “Giannis Antetokounmpo”.
Again, thank you so much for the extreme joy you have given me today. And, I am sorry but, you know, Grown-ups sometimes get a little sentimental. Again, thank you so much deep from the bottom of my heart. Thank you. All the best to your lives. Thank you.
January 12, 2023