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METROPOLIS NEWS
Goyans from 17 New Jersey parishes attend the opening ceremonies of the Metropolis Olympics.
JULY – AUGUST 2011
Photos by Kostas Lymperopoulos
Metropolis of New Jersey Holds Successful 42nd GOYA Olympics by George Tomczewski
WESTFIELD, N.J. – The Metropolis of New Jersey’s 42nd annual GOYA Olympics took place May 28-29, under the auspices of Metropolitan Evangelos on the campus of Monmouth University in West Long Branch. More than 460 GOYA athletes
Winning gold – Magdalini Kostidakis of St. George Church in Asbury Park heads for a first–place finish enabling her girls relay team to win a gold medal.
from 17 parishes gathered together under perfect skies for fellowship and friendly athletic competition. The GOYA Olympics began on Saturday morning, May 28. After checking into the dorms, the athletes, coaches, advisors and parents gathered on Kessler Field for the invocation to officially begin the 2011 Olympics. Throughout the day on Saturday the young athletes competed in various track and field events, swimming, and a co–ed volleyball tournament. After the events had ended for the day the athletes gathered together for a dinner dance, where the Goyans participated in a fun night of fellowship with one another. On Sunday, May 29, the participants and parishioners from St. George Church in Asbury Park, attended the Divine Liturgy in Pollack Theater on the Monmouth University campus. The Liturgy was celebrated by the Rev. Andrew Eugenis, proistamenos of St. George Church in Asbury Park. After the Divine Liturgy, the Olympiad then moved back to Kessler Field, where the day continued with the traditional opening ceremonies, which included the Parade of Churches, the Olympic Torch Run, the American and Greek National Anthems and the greetings from Mr. and Miss GOYA.
The GOYA team from St. Athanasius parish in Paramus.
Parents and relatives of the athletes enjoyed the finals of the running events as well as all of the field events, including long jump, and the 5k race throughout the beautiful campus of Monmouth. The 6th annual Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey Joy Run attracted over 60 young athletes ages 10 and 11 running a 100–meter dash. This event gave our JOY-aged children a taste of the excitement that awaits them upon entering GOYA and participating fully in the Olympics and other GOYA events. Each of the JOY children were presented with a gold medal, wishing them the best as they grow in their faith and
friendship with their peers, encouraging them to be athletes for Christ. The 2011 GOMNJ GOYA Olympics concluded with the Father Dean Martin Memorial Award ceremony in which gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded to individuals as well as teams. The athletes departed from the field with fond memories of the event and friendships that will continue on throughout the years to come. GOMNJ 2011 GOYA Olympics Participating New Jersey parishes: St. George, Asbury Park; St. George, Clifton; St. Thomas, Cherry Hill; Ascension, Fairview; St. Anna, Flemington; Kimisis Tis Theotokou, Holmdel; Sts. Nicholas, Constantine and Helen; Orange; St.. Athanasios, Paramus; St. Demetrios, Perth Amboy; St. George, Piscataway; St. Andrew, Randolph; St. John the Theologian, Tenafly; St. Barbara, Toms River; St. George, Trenton; St. Demetrios, Union; Holy Trinity, (Above) Constantine Kazameas of St. Andrew parish in Randolph displays his Westfield; and powerful butterfly stroke during the swimming competition. (Left) Members of St. Nicholas, St. George Church’s GOYA of Piscataway. Wyckoff.