The combination of athlete and student has its rewards. This status, reserved for a privileged few, has its advantages, and this week it was rewarded by the Hellenic Olympic Committee. 

In recognition of their achievements, all the athletes who have qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and have also completed their university studies have received awards. It is not easy to secure a place in the world's most important sporting event and at the same time be a university student and complete your studies. 

The European Union is funding a project called "Olympic Committees for Dual Career - OCDC" to promote dual careers. For young people who want to make their mark in the world through their passions, this is Plan A and Plan B. Ms Georgia Papathanasiou, Head of the EU Projects Department at the HOC, presented the results of the project.

The countdown to Paris 2024 is on and the months leading up to the Games are always special in Greece. In just two weeks, the Olympic torch will begin its journey to the French capital. A ceremony will be held to mark the start of its journey across Europe. Greek Olympic rowing champion Stefanos Duskos will be the first torchbearer for the Paris 2024 Olympic flame. The journey will begin at the stadium in ancient Olympia.

Around 600 people will take turns to carry the torch in Greece, covering more than 5,000 kilometres across the country, from Meteora to the island of Kastelorizo, from Delphi to Santorini, before arriving at the Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens on 26 April 2024, where the journey through Greece will end and the rest of the journey to France will begin.

The final Greek torchbearers will be players from the national water polo team. They won the silver medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The flame will then travel by ship from the port of Piraeus to Marseilles, where it will arrive on 8 May, before continuing its journey by land to Paris.

"Greece and France are united by close ties of cooperation and solidarity. Paris will host an excellent Olympic Games. It will demonstrate the greatness of the French people," said HOC President Spyros Capralos recently.