The city of Misato bid farewell to the Greek athletics team today with a heartfelt ceremony at the city stadium.

The Mayor of Misato and local officials once again expressed their gratitude, love, and respect for the Greek athletes, as well as all members of the delegation. The Mayor wished the athletes success in their competitions and assured that Misato will always be an ally of the Hellenic Athletics Federation.

As a symbol of friendship, solidarity, and peace, the Mayor and the team’s technical director, Christos Meletoglou, planted an olive tree. In his brief speech, Meletoglou thanked the city of Misato for the warm hospitality and support throughout the team’s preparation period.

For eight days, the citizens of Misato embraced the Greek team, showing not only affection but also admiration and appreciation for the athletes. Each afternoon, athletics fans filled the stadium stands to watch the Greek team’s training sessions.

The team continued its regular training schedule, with Miltiadis Tentoglou completing one of his final long jump sessions before the qualifying round on Monday, September 15.

For nine days, Misato served as a sanctuary for the Greek delegation. Athletes adapted smoothly to the local climate and trained uninterruptedly at an ideal training facility.

Japanese hosts did everything possible to assist the team with both minor and major daily matters, always with a smile and a positive attitude. One key figure was Rio, who lives in Greece, speaks Greek, and managed all practical aspects of the team’s stay—from accommodations and meals to other logistics. He was constantly by the side of athletes and coaches, offering support wherever needed. Rio had also assisted the team during the 2021 Olympics.

On Thursday morning, the Greek team will hold its final training session in Misato before departing for Tokyo at 1:00 PM to check into the official competition hotel. The hotel complex will host 2,203 athletes from all 198 participating countries.

Team members will collect their accreditation, and at 7:00 PM, the national team gathering will take place in the presence of SEGAS President Sofia Sakorafa.

Elina Tzengo and Dimitris Pavlidis, the final two members of the Greek delegation, will arrive in Tokyo on Thursday. The World Athletics Championships officially begin on Saturday.