"I like this place because it's like home!"
Jessica Croker, age 7, U.S.A. - 5/4/2002

"Many times have we visited the airport in Athens. This time we found a place for children. When I came here my imagination flew in a magical world. I played around, I drew pictures, and met little children" - Natalia Koupatou, age 7, Greece

"Congratulations and all the best for the little paradise" - Paul, England

These are just a few of the many warm comments that filled the visitor's book of the "Children's Creative Entertainment Area" at Athens International Airport, since the official opening of the area on 18-02-2002, 365 days ago.

Today, the "Children's Creative Entertainment Area", an innovative and successful initiative of Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos" in cooperation with the Association "The Smile of the Child", celebrates its first birthday and embraces every young passenger passing through Athens airport!

During the last twelve months, in a warm, friendly, and safe area located at AIA's departure level (next to Gates B1- B2), the specially trained child minders offered –free of charge- their services to 3,412 little friends of the airport (ages varying from 3-6, with 45 minutes average time of stay). In this cosy area the children freed their creative thinking and imagination through games, painting and handwork. At the same time, the parents or guardians of the children were able to take care of any pending travel issues, or shop at the commercial area of the Main Terminal Building.

To celebrate the first year of successful operation of the "Children's Creative Entertainment Area", Athens International Airport and "The Smile of the Child" jointly organized a birthday event; gifts and candies were offered to the children, whereas the occasion was saluted by AIA's Chief Executive Officer Mr. Alfred van der Meer, and the Chairman of the "Smile of the Child" Association, Mr. Constantinos Giannopoulos.

"We had some great moments... We wish that you never stop to bring the smile to the faces of our children"
Little Aspasia and her dad - 16/5/2002

From the birthday event of the "Children's Creative Entertainment Area" at Athens International Airport: On the background, from left to right: George Karamanos, AIA's Manager of Marketing & Public Relations, Alfred van der Meer, AIA's Chief Executive Officer, Konstantinos Giannopoulos, Chairman of the Association "The Smile of the Child", and Chara Mitsotaki, Head of AIA's Public Relations	AIA's Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Alfred van der Meer, and the Chairman of the Association "The Smile of the Child", Mr. Konstantinos Giannopoulos, at the "Children's Creative Entertainment Area"	Children at the "Children's Creative Entertainment Area" during the birthday event