Barack and Michelle Obama will spend part of their summer vacations on the islands of Paros and Antiparos where they will be guests at the villa of Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson. The former US President will be in Greece on the occasion of the Nostos Conference in Athens.
Mayor of Paros, Markos Kovaios, confirmed the arrival of the former US presidential couple saying that there is a big mobilization on the island, with dozens of American agents and members of the personal security of the former US president, as well as the assistance of the Civil Aviation Service.
On alert are also the local police and the coast guard.
“Our island is a destination for the most ordinary person up to kings, heads of states and, from what we see now, even world leaders. We don’t know exactly now when they will come, it’s a matter of security, but certainly next week. He [Obama] is a useful person for the society, a special person. And it is a great joy and honor for us that he will come by our island”, mayor Kovaios told local media parianostypos.gr.
Guest at the Hanks-Wilson villa in Antiparos
Barack and Michelle Obama will be hosted at the villa of Hollywood stars Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson on the neighboring island of Antiparos, the local media added.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) announced in February Barack Obama’s participation in this year’s SNF Nostos Conference, in June 2023, where the former US President will discuss ways to strengthen democratic culture and the importance of supporting the next generation of leaders together with the president of the SNF, Andreas Drakopoulos.
The Nostos Conference is scheduled June 21-23. It is unclear whether the Obamas will enjoy some days in the Cyclades islands before or after the conference.
Obama visiting Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum in November 2016
It is the second time that the former US president will visit the SNFCC and deliver a speech, after his last visit in Athens in 2016.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) announced in February Barack Obama’s participation in this year’s SNF Nostos Conference, in June 2023, where the former US President will discuss ways to strengthen democratic culture and the importance of supporting the next generation of leaders together with the president of the SNF, Andreas Drakopoulos.
Obama was a member of WEF’s Global Leaders of Tomorrow – does SNF have a connection as well? Obama gave Tom Hanks a “Medal of Freedom” (whatever that means!).