Athletic & Cultural Association

SOKOS ERMIS

SportsCultureNatureTraditionVolunteering

The Athletic & Cultural Association “Sokos Ermis”, based in Sochos, Thessaloniki, is a non-profit organisation founded with the aim of becoming an active hub for sports, culture, community participation and environmental action.

Sohos Mountain Games Our Philosophy
Sochos · Thessaloniki 40°49′N · 23°21′E

With Sochos as its home and starting point—a place with a distinctive natural, historical and cultural identity—the Association seeks to highlight the potential of the area and create opportunities for local residents, athletes, young people and visitors.

The philosophy of “Sokos Ermis” is based on the belief that sport, culture and nature can bring people together while contributing to the development, vitality and outward-looking character of a local community.
Mountain trail and waterfall in the forest of Sochos

The Power of Sport

A central pillar of the Association's activities is the promotion and development of sport, with an emphasis on physical and mental well-being, participation and the cultivation of a healthy sporting culture.

The Association promotes the values of fair play, sportsmanship, mutual respect, cooperation and healthy competition.

Through participation in competitions, sporting events, training activities and educational programmes, “Sokos Ermis” seeks to create opportunities for people of all ages to discover sport, connect with nature and adopt a more active and healthy lifestyle.

Particular emphasis is placed on activities connected with the natural environment and mountain landscapes, including trail and road running, hiking, mountaineering, cycling and mountain biking.

At the same time, the Association has the capacity to develop additional sporting disciplines and activities, creating a broader framework for participation in sport.

Trail Running Road Running Hiking Mountaineering Cycling Mountain Biking
Sohos Mountain Games

Where Sport Meets the Mountain

One of the Association's key sporting initiatives is the organisation of the Sohos Mountain Games, an event that highlights the mountainous landscape of Sochos and brings together sport, nature, adventure and exploration.

The Sohos Mountain Games aim to create a meeting point for athletes, runners, hikers, outdoor enthusiasts and visitors who wish to discover Sochos through a unique sporting and outdoor experience.

The event makes use of the area's distinctive natural terrain, creating an experience that goes beyond the limits of a conventional race. The mountain becomes a place for sport, exploration, discovery and human connection.

At the same time, through the organisation of the Games, the Association seeks to contribute to the visibility and outward development of Sochos, attract visitors and highlight the natural wealth and potential of the area.

The Sohos Mountain Games are therefore a true expression of the philosophy of “Sokos Ermis”:

Sport born in nature, creating value for the place and its people.
Discover the Games
The church and bell tower in the square of Sochos
Sochos, Thessaloniki

Culture and Tradition

“Sokos Ermis” is not only a sports association.

Culture, tradition and the historical identity of Sochos are an integral part of its activities.

The Association seeks to preserve, protect and promote the area's cultural heritage and folk traditions, while connecting them with contemporary cultural expression.

The Association may organise and support concerts, theatre performances, festivals, traditional dance events, seminars, lectures, exhibitions, cultural gatherings and activities related to photography, music, theatre, dance and visual arts.

At the same time, it aims to create initiatives that bring different generations together, ensuring that tradition does not remain simply a memory of the past, but continues to be a living part of contemporary community life.
Aerial view of Sochos
Sochos from above

Sochos as a Place for Creativity

Sochos possesses a unique combination of natural and cultural assets.

Its mountain landscape, trails, natural environment, history, customs and people create a distinctive setting where new ideas and initiatives can flourish.

“Sokos Ermis” seeks to contribute to the development of this identity through activities that connect:

  • people with nature
  • sport with culture
  • tradition with contemporary creativity
  • the local community with visitors

Through this philosophy, the Association aims to create a space where athletes, artists, volunteers, young people, residents and visitors can meet, exchange ideas and create together.

Environment and Volunteering

Environment and Volunteering

The protection of the natural environment is an important part of the Association's philosophy.

“Sokos Ermis” supports initiatives aimed at protecting and promoting the natural environment, including reforestation, clean-up activities and other actions that strengthen environmental awareness.

Particular importance is placed on the protection and promotion of the area's mountain routes and trails, ensuring that they remain accessible, safe and active.

Volunteering is a fundamental part of this effort.

For the Association, a volunteer is not simply someone who helps organise an event. A volunteer is an active member of the community and a participant in the effort to create a better place for everyone.

Community and Participation

Community and Participation

“Sokos Ermis” seeks to remain close to the local community and create activities that are open to everyone.

Hiking activities, sporting events, cultural initiatives, educational programmes, seminars, recreational events and social actions can create opportunities for participation for children, young people, adults and older generations.

The Association also seeks to develop partnerships with schools, educational institutions, sports and cultural organisations, local authorities, public and private bodies, as well as organisations that share similar goals.

Through cooperation, the Association aims to build networks of people and organisations that can contribute to the development and vitality of the local area.

An Association with a Vision for the Future

An Association with a Vision for the Future

“Sokos Ermis” was founded on a simple but meaningful idea: An active association can become the driving force behind an active community.

For this reason, the Association does not limit its activities to a single sport or cultural field.

Instead, it seeks to develop new activities, partnerships and initiatives that respond to the needs of the community and the potential of the area.

The creation of sports academies, new sporting sections, cultural workshops, educational activities, events and initiatives forms part of a broader vision: to build an open, vibrant and outward-looking Association.

Sochos, Thessaloniki

Sochos at the Heart of Everything We Do

All the activities of “Sokos Ermis” share one common point of reference: Sochos. A place with outstanding natural beauty, a rich cultural heritage and a strong local identity.

The Association seeks to highlight these qualities and create new opportunities for Sochos to become a destination for sport, nature, culture and recreation.

Through its activities, and particularly through events such as the Sohos Mountain Games, “Sokos Ermis” seeks to open Sochos to the wider world while, at the same time, bringing the wider world closer to Sochos.

Our Philosophy

Sport

We believe that sport is more than taking part in a race.

It is about effort, cooperation, discipline, joy, connection with others and contact with nature.

Culture

We believe that culture is more than preserving the past.

It is the ability of a community to remember, create, evolve and pass its identity on to future generations.

Nature

We believe that nature is more than the setting for our activities.

It is a valuable shared resource that we have a responsibility to protect and preserve for generations to come.

And above all, we believe in the power of participation.

Because a place changes when its people decide to take action.

Athletic & Cultural Association “Sokos Ermis”

Sochos, Thessaloniki, Greece

Sport • Culture • Nature • Tradition • Volunteering