Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gianna Angelopoulos–Daskalaki Olympic Order
Γιάννα Αγγελοπούλου-Δασκαλάκη
President “Greece 2021” National Committee
In office 31 July 2019 – 31 December 2021
President of the Athens Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games
In office 1 October 2000 – 29 August 2004
IOC President	Juan Antonio Samaranch (2000–01) Jacques Rogge (2001–04)
Preceded by	Michael Knight
Succeeded by	Liu Qi
Chair of the Athens Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games
In office 15 May 2000 – 8 July 2005 Chair of the Athens bid: 1996 – 1997
Preceded by	Panagiotis Thomopoulos
Succeeded by	Position dissolved
Convening Sponsor, Clinton Global Initiative Honorary Ambassador of the Greek State
Personal details
Born	(1955-12-12) 12 December 1955 (age 69) Heraklion, Greece

Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, born Ioanna Daskalaki on December 12, 1955, is a successful Greek businesswoman. She is also an Ambassador for Greece. She is most famous for leading the teams that brought and organized the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

In 2019, she was chosen to lead "Greece 2021." This project celebrated 200 years since the Greek Revolution. It also aimed to show the world a new, hopeful Greece. Forbes magazine once called her one of the 50 most powerful women. She also wrote a bestselling book called My Greek Drama.

Early Life and Family

Ioanna Daskalaki was born in Heraklion, Crete. Her family was middle-class. She studied law at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

In 1990, she married Theodore Angelopoulos. He was a successful businessman in shipping and steel. Gianna became involved in many of his business projects. She is a mother of three children: Panagiotis, Dimitris, and Carolina. She also has three granddaughters.

Political Career and Public Service

In the late 1980s, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki became active in politics in Athens. In 1986, she was elected to the Athens Municipal Council. This meant she helped manage the city.

In 1989, she was elected to the Greek Parliament. She won reelection the next year. This made her a national lawmaker.

In 1998, the Greek government made her an Ambassador at Large. This is a special role where she represents Greece. She donates her salary from this role to Greek charities every year.

She has received important honors for her work. In 2004, she became a Commander of the Order of Honour of the Hellenic Republic. In 2008, France made her a Chevalier of the National Order of the Legion of Honor.

Leading the 2004 Summer Olympic Games

Greece wanted to host the 1996 Summer Olympics, but they lost the bid. So, they decided to try for the 2004 games. Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki led the team that bid for the 2004 Olympics. She was the first woman to lead such a committee. Her team successfully brought the games to Athens.

However, she was not part of the first group organizing the games. Later, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) worried if Greece was ready. They asked Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki to return. In May 2000, she became president of the Olympic Organizing Committee. She was the first woman to hold this top position.

Under her leadership, all the sports facilities were finished. Security for the games was also handled well. Both Juan Antonio Samaranch and Jacques Rogge, who were presidents of the IOC, said she was key to the games' success. Rogge even called them "unforgettable, dream Games."

After the Olympics, she bought a newspaper called Eleftheros Typos. She also attended the opening ceremony of the next Olympics in Torino, Italy.

Involvement in Greece 2021

Greece 2021 was a big project to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution. It honored Greece's past. But it also focused on the skills and strength of the Greek people today. The project aimed to show confidence in Greece's future. It highlighted new opportunities in business, science, and new ideas.

In 2019, the Greek Government asked Mrs. Angelopoulos to lead the "Greece 2021" National Committee.

Supporting Education and Leadership

Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki has done a lot to support education and leadership.

• In 1994, she became vice-chairman of the Dean's Council at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. She still serves there today.
• In 2008, Harvard University created the Angelopoulos Chair for Public Health and International Development. This supports studies in health and global development.
• In 2012, she started the Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders Fellowship program at Harvard. This program helps leaders who are leaving public office. They can spend time at Harvard to teach, learn, and do research.
• In 2013, she created the Angelopoulos Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU) Fellowship. This program helps Greek students with new business ideas. She has supported over 75 students.
• In 2019, she started a new program at Cambridge University. The Gianna Angelopoulos Programme for Science, Technology and Innovation supports PhD students. It also funds four academic positions in energy materials and computing.

Authored Books

Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki wrote a book called My Greek Drama: Life, Love, and One Woman's Olympic Effort to Bring Glory to Her Country. This book became a bestseller on The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today lists.