My Greek drama : life, love, and one woman's Olympic effort to bring glory to her country

'From Crete to Athens and Zurich to London, Gianna Angelopoulos has made a career of turning ideas into action. In My Greek Drama, Gianna recounts her successes--as a dedicated public servant, savior of the 2004 Olympic Games, and devoted mother of three--and presents a useful guide for those who seek to transform lives, organizations, and even nations.'' -- President Bill ClintonThe world had doubted Greece's ability to successfully stage the 2004 Olympic Games. In rescuing the Athens Olympics and delivering what IOC President Jacques Rogge called an “unforgettable dream games,” Gianna Angelopoulos also delivered a new Greece, a modern can-do nation, a Greece worthy of its illustrious heritage.Little did she know that a few years later her country would abandon the lessons of the Olympics and become embroiled in a political and economic crisis that would devastate Greece and threaten the economic security of Europe.In My Greek Drama, Gianna Angelopoulos--known in her home country simply as ''Gianna''--has written a memoir that is as much about Greece's journey as her own.From her childhood in Crete, to law school in Thessaloniki, to Athens, where she overcame male-dominated legal and political cultures to help redefine public service in Greece, Gianna worked her way into becoming one of the most respected women in Greek public life.Balancing motherhood, business, and a place in the upper echelons of world society, Gianna never lost her passion for public service and brought the 2004 Olympic Games back from the brink of catastrophe.Her life, her Cinderella love story, and her intensity of will are equally unforgettable. From stories of handing out basil seeds on the streets of Athens to courting the world on behalf of her country, My Greek Drama captures the burning ambition of the rebellious girl from the island of Crete who ''lit'' the Olympic torch. Her story should help rekindle the spirit of the Greek people, and of every person who has ever struggled to change the world. Standing alone in the VIP box of the Olympic Games in 2004, Gianna Angelopoulos began to dance. The world had doubted Greeces ability to successfully stage this global event. She danced to celebrate the efforts of all Greeksand her ownto host a phenomenally successful games, an effort that showed the world a new Greece, a Greece worthy of its illustrious heritage. Little did she know that a few years later her country would abandon the lessons of the Olympics and become embroiled in a political and economic crisis that would devastate Greece, and threaten the economic security of Europe. In My Greek Drama , Gianna Angelopoulosknown in her home country simply as Giannahas written a memoir that is as much about Greeces journey as her own. From her childhood in Crete, to law school in Thessaloniki, to Athens, where she overcame male-dominated legal and political cultures to help redefine public service in Greece, Gianna worked her way into becoming one of the most respected women in Greek public life. Balancing motherhood, business, and a place in the upper echelons of world society, Gianna never lost her passion for public service and brought the 2004 Olympic Games back from the brink of catastrophe to what was later called an unforgettable dream games. Her life, her Cinderella love story, and her intensity of will are equally unforgettable. From stories of handing out basil seeds on the streets of Athens to entertaining royalty and political leaders in London, Zurich, and Athens, My Greek Drama captures the burning ambition of the rebellious girl from the island of Crete who lit the Olympic torch. Her story should help rekindle the spirit of the Greek people, and of every person who has ever struggled to change the world. A book that captures the burning ambition of the rebellious girl from the island of Crete who "lit" the Olympic torch. The world had doubted Greece's ability to successfully stage the 2004 Olympic event. Angelopoulos led the effort to bring the Olympics back to Athens, and the phenomenally successful games were an effort that showed the world a new Greece, a Greece worthy of its illustrious heritage. Little did she know that a few years later her country would abandon the lessons of the Olympics and become embroiled in a political and economic crisis that would devastate Greece, and threaten the economic security of Europe. Prologue Philoxenia Family names "I don't need a son, I have Gianna!" Growing pains Escape from Crete The golden horse A touch of basil School days Parliamentary steps Turkish delights Un coup de foudre Second chances No gain without pain Generation next Back to university London calling Sleeping with the enemy Athens is in motion We court the world A gold-medal performance A tale of two cities Land and water Sun Tzu, Machiavelli, and me Omens and bumps in the road "I will also be there!" G force Games on Last dance New pathways and paradigms A Greek drama Epilogue. The Greek businesswoman discusses the events of her life, describing her education as a lawyer, her success as a member of the bidding committee for the Olympics, and her work in the organizational group that prepared the country for the 2004 Athens games