NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo, also known as the Greek Freak to millions of fans worldwide, will fund the construction of an indoor basketball court in the fire-ravaged area outside Athens where at least 100 people were killed last year.
The mayor of the Rafina area where the fire occurred last July said on Monday that local authorities received the offer from the Milwaukee Bucks player to build the court near a new park that is being planned in the area.
The mayor, Vangelis Bournous, gave no details of the construction cost but said the venue would be ready at the end of this summer, according to a report in ESPN News.
The blaze gutted the seaside resort of Mati, east of Athens, and other coastal areas, destroying more than a thousand homes.
“Antetokounmpo, the well-known Giannis Antetokounmpo, has made a donation at the site to build an indoor court– I’m announcing this for the first time,” Bournous said at a campaign event ahead of local elections on Sunday.
“It will be built with a modern methods using a steel building frame so it can be ready by the end of the summer,” according to an announcement by Bournous.
Greek television channel ONE commentators spoke openly about Giannis the philanthropist and humanitarian and how his actions were a great response to the numerous racist incidents that have happened in Greece, including against him and his brother, Thanassis, who was attacked recently on air by a sports commentator.
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