The City of Athens welcomed 2023 with an audiovisual show at Syntagma Square full of music and fireworks that saw the Athenian sky over the Acropolis filled with light. The celebrations were broadcast through CNN around the world.
The network singled out the Greek capital, ran six live reports, and hosted the Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, just before he took the stage for the countdown to the new year. MrBakoyannis seized the opportunity, on the channel’s prime time, to send a message to global viewers that Athens is not only recovering after the pandemic but is moving forward, full of optimism and confidence. CNN had set up a special platform on Syntagma Square for its live reports. At the same time, more than 200 of its affiliated networks worldwide broadcast images of the impressive celebrations at the “heart” of the city.
The New Year’s Eve show with the spectacular fireworks, the “Farewell to the old year”, sung by the lead singers Marios Frangoulis and Giorgos Perris, the hosts of the show, Fotis Sergoulopoulos and Jenny Melita, the Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis and the event attendees, reached every corner of the globe, putting Athens in the spotlight.
Kostas Bakoyannis stated in CNN International: “Yes, it is (a festive atmosphere). It’s great to have you with us. Good evening. There’s a lot of excitement and joy in the air. It has been a long time since we last met. And Athens is not only regaining its pace but is moving forward rapidly, full of optimism and confidence.
Interviewer: What makes Athens so unique on a day like this?
Once you visit Athens, you can choose which of its many historical periods you want to follow: the ancient or the contemporary,” said MrBakoyannis, adding that “Athens is a vibrant modern metropolis, proud of its ancient past. It has an average of 330 sunshine days a year, with sun-drenched beaches only a 20-minute drive away… it’s a city where one can welcome the New Year without wearing a coat.”