President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias concluded yesterday a single-day visit to Berlin, upon invitation by German Federal President Joachim Gauck, on the occasion of the conclusion of the exhibition Olympia: Myth-Cult-Games in Antiquity, held under the auspices of the two Presidents since August 2012 at the Martin-Gropius-Bau. Following a meeting with his German counterpart, Papoulias  was optimistic about Greek-German relations, which are characterized, as he said, by the "sense of solidarity, a fundamental European value", noting that "much has changed in Greece, thanks to the sacrifices of the Greek people, who are paying a heavy price."

He also called on German businesspeople to invest in Greece. On his part, Joachim Gauck stressed that Greece can rely on Germany for future help, because "true friendship is affirmed in times of crises."

Following a guided tour of the exhibition, Papoulias said that it allows visitors to immerse in Greek civilization and the Olympic ideal of fair play and thanked the 2.5 million German tourists who visit Greece every year.

He further extended an invitation to Gauck, promising a personal tour of Ancient Olympia.