Exhibition honouring Anatolian Hellenism and Pontic sporting legacy opens in Melbourne
The exhibition ‘Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body – The Sporting Legacy of Anatolian Hellenism’ was officially launched on Monday, at the Alphington Grammar School Hall in Melbourne.
Organised by the Pedagogical Institute Hellenism of Anatolia – From the Aegean to Pontus (EA), this is the fourth in a series of educational events held as part of the annual remembrance program running from 19 to 29 May.
For the first time, the exhibition brings together refugee-origin communities, illuminating their contribution to education and sport, and honouring their enduring legacy.
Featuring rare memorabilia, including signed jerseys from historical clubs such as AEK, PAOK, Apollon Smyrnis, and Olympique de Marseille, the exhibition underscores the connection between the ancient Greek ideal of physical and spiritual excellence and the lived experiences of Asia Minor Greeks.
The theme of the exhibition highlights how sport served not only as physical education but as a cultural vehicle during the Ottoman Empire and post-refugee resettlement. Attendees were invited to wear the jersey of their favourite team, embodying the living continuity of football heritage across generations.
Among the keynote speakers was Giannis Anastasiadis, a former professional footballer and proud Pontian, who played nearly a decade for PAOK Thessaloniki, including appearances in the UEFA Cup.
“Before anything else, I felt Pontian,” Anastasiadis said, speaking to the cultural pride instilled in him by his family.
“The traditions, the food, the values – everything had its roots in Pontus. We used to joke that we weren’t Greek, we were Pontian!”
Reflecting on his family’s journey – refugees from Trapezounta and Kerasounta who arrived in Northern Greece in 1920 – he honoured the generations before him.
“My grandparents were among the 353,000 who lost everything. But they carried with them culture, resilience, and a love for sport that shaped who we are.”
Anastasiadis emotionally recounted a moment from his youth in Melbourne: “I had a poster of Maradona on my wall. A month later, I was on the field playing against him. That’s the kind of magic football brings.”
He described joining PAOK in 1988 and playing over 250 matches for the club:
“To wear the black-and-white jersey wasn’t just sport—it was a way of life. It was history, memory, and identity stitched into every thread.”
PAOK, he explained, was founded in 1926 by Constantinopolitan refugees as the spiritual successor of the Greek club Hermes in Istanbul.
“Its colours symbolise mourning and hope, and its crest—the two-headed Byzantine eagle with closed wings—embodies the trauma of uprooting and the strength to begin again.”
Exhibition curator Kostas Pataridis called the event “a dream come true,” uniting his two great passions: Pontic heritage and football.
The evening also featured moving musical performances by Giorgos Stavrou and traditional Anatolian treats offered by Marianthi Tsagana and Vasso Koronaiou.
Poignant moments included tributes to individuals and families who exemplify intergenerational continuity, such as the Hatzimanolis family and Neos Kosmos Editor-in-Chief Sotiris Hatzimanolis, representing five generations of unwavering loyalty to a single football club.
Also featured was the launch of “Atimeton” (meaning invaluable in Pontic Greek), a new book by musician and author Diogenis Ainatzis, dedicated to the preservation of the Pontic dialect and identity.
Alphington Grammar School Hall, 18 Old Heidelberg Rd, Alphington VIC
Thursday 22 May & Tuesday 27 May, 5–7.30pm, Weekend 24–25 May, 11am–4.30pm
Visitors are encouraged to attend in their favourite team jerseys. Entry is free.
On Sunday 25 May at 4pm, a charity event titled “Sip and Stroke” will be held to raise funds for Gina, a mother of two courageously battling Stage 4 Triple Negative Breast Cancer.
The exhibition will conclude on Thursday 29 May at 7pm with a student awards ceremony for the competition “In the Footsteps of Digenis Akritas” and the closing event “Parthen”, commemorating the Fall of Constantinople, featuring a selection of Byzantine hymns by the Melbourne Psaltres in a powerful finale of remembrance and reverence.
For more information: [email protected]
