BCN-07 ‘Visit my beautiful country’, Greek Freak NBA star tells America

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ZCZC

BCN-07

NBA-GREECE-LEISURE-ECONOMY

‘Visit my beautiful country’, Greek Freak NBA star tells America

ATHENS, June 30, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo
turned his hand to holiday promotion on Friday when he appealed to American
tourists to travel to his homeland in a short film showing off a string of
iconic spots in the country.

“Hi I’m Giannis Antetokounmpo and this is my beautiful country, Greece,”
the 23-year-old star of the Milwaukee Bucks, known as ‘the Greek Freak’,
tells the camera before a backdrop of the columns of the Parthenon.

Antetokounmpo’s rags-to-riches story of the immigrant boy hawking
sunglasses at Athens tourist spots such as the Parthenon before finding fame
as a top international sportsman is well known in Greece and amongst NBA
fans.

The commercial also tells viewers they can “run the original marathon”
along the route run by Pheidippides to report on the victory at the Battle of
Marathon.

Greek Minister of Tourism Elena Kountoura said the choice of
Antetokounmpo, who is known for his affable, self-effecing nature, had been
easy.

“Antetokounmpo is a dignified ambassador for Greece, which is why we asked
him to promote us,” she explained.

BSS/AFP/HR/1000