Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki
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Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki (born Gianna Daskalaki on December 12, 1955 in Heraklion, Crete) is a Greek politician and business woman.
Being born in very simple and poor conditions in Heraklion, Crete, and raised by her mother, a cleaning-lady and her father a warder she early pursued her ambitions, being one of the best pupils in class.
She is best known for being the president of the bidding and organizing committee for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. She was named one of the 50 most powerful women by Forbes magazine.
Angelopoulos-Daskalaki studied Law the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and in the late 1980s became actively involved in politics in Athens, initially elected municipal councillor and subsequently Member of Parliament. In 1990 she married shipping magnate Theodore Angelopoulos and has since been working in the shipping business.
Disappointed over losing the bid for the 100 Year Celebration of the revival of the Olympic Games in 1996, Greece officials decided to bid for the 2004 Summer Olympics. Angelopoulos-Daskalaki was named president of the Bidding Committee and succeeded in bringing the Olympics to Athens. She was however excluded from the initial organization committee that would prepare for the games.
When the International Olympic Committee questioned Greece's commitment to the games and its ability to complete all preparations prior to the opening ceremony, Angelopoulos-Daskalaki was asked to return and was named president of the Organizing Committee. Under her watch competition facilities were completed and security issues were taken care of. IOC presidents Juan Antonio Samaranch and Jacques Rogge both credit specifically Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki for the success of the games. Dimitrios Daskalopoulos who has worked with Angelopoulos in several occasions says, "Working with Gianna has been very rewarding. She makes you feel comfortable to speak your mind, as well as she makes sure that the task at hand is completed. I have learned a lot from her and I am sure that I am not alone."
Though she is highly popular in Greece, she also faces substantial criticism. Her proclaimed love for Greece is questioned and she is criticized for aggressive self-promoting.
Since 1994 she has served as Vice-Chair of the Dean's Council of Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. In 1998, she was appointed Ambassador at Large by the Greek government.
