Supporting excellence in sports over two decades

 The A. G. Leventis Foundation’s Olympic Preparation Scholarship Programme was set up in 1999 to support talented young athletes from Greece and Cyprus training to compete in summer Olympic individual sports at the forthcoming Olympic Games. In 21 years, over 500 awards have supported athletes in a wide range of sports, such as track and field, rowing, sailing, swimming, diving, fencing, gymnastics, tae kwon do, archery, shooting, and synchronised swimming, playing an important role in helping gifted, determined young athletes rank among the best of the world. Many former scholars stand today among the country’s leading Olympians, highlighting the programme’s support of excellence in sports, over two decades.  

From 2016 to 2020 the Foundation was joined by The Hellenic Initiative and The John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, who, in recognition of the success of the Olympic Preparation Scholarships Programme after the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games, wished to contribute funds for additional scholarships undertaking a four-year commitment which would culminate with the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games. The programme ran despite the pandemic which led to the postponement of the Tokyo Games, in recognition of the fact that Greek and Cypriot athletes continue to train, despite the adverse conditions, in order to compete in 2021.

In 2021, the A. G. Leventis Foundation partnered with the Hellenic Olympic Committee and the and The John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation to award 69 scholarships and support a total of 77 athletes representing all 28 Olympic Federations.