ATHENS, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Giannis Antetokounmpo abandoned for a while the basketball court to perform his duties as ambassador of Greek tourism.
The Greek professional player for NBA's Milwaukee Bucks is the protagonist in a new video unveiled on Friday by the Greek Tourism Ministry in Athens, promoting the beauties of the country, 365 days a year.
"From the first time I met Giannis Antetokounmpo and his family, I was really moved by his love for Greece. I proposed him to become the Ambassador of Greek Tourism and he immediately accepted. He makes us really proud of his success. Throughout his international career, he has held Greece in his heart, while promoting the country worldwide," Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura told reporters during a press conference here.
Last year she named Giannis and his older brother Thanasis, who plays for Panathinaikos, as ambassadors of Greek tourism. They were both born in Greece to Nigerian parents who once struggled to find steady work.
"My family and I will try our best to promote Greece's beauties, people and culture. The most important elements in Greece's culture are solidarity and philanthropy and that is why we are participating in a race that we will start on July 7th in Athens to also strengthen and help the effort of the non-profit Organization Ark of the World," Giannis Antetokounmpo, nicknamed the "Greek Freak", said.
He then uploaded the new video on social media, making it available to thousands of his fans worldwide.
In the short video which will also be promoted by Greek embassies and Greek National Tourism Organization's offices abroad, the basketball star urges travelers to visit Greece and experience paradise on earth.
Tourism is a major growth engine for Greece. In 2017 the country for a 5th consecutive year broke its all time record, with 30.2 million arrivals, according to Greek ministry data. Greece also ranked 24th globally in tourism competitiveness among 141 countries and regions and 5th internationally in tourism, according to the Anholt-GfKNations Brand Index (2017).
Finally, 519 blue flags awarded to Greek beaches in 2017, ranking Greece second among 47 countries and regions, according to data from EntrerpriseGreece, Greece's state trade and investment promotion agency.
Foreign visitors outside the Greek Tourism ministry on Friday were already happy with their choice to visit Greece.
"I love the ancient flavor everywhere you go, the streets, the buildings. A lot of history is concentrated here, I would like to have more time to learn everything about it," Qunbin Xiong told Xinhua. He is a Chinese-American from Philadelphia, who visits Greece for the first time, with his wife and daughter.
