Heritage Commission Launches Cultural Events to Mark World Heritage Day

​​​​​​​The program also includes workshops, live demonstrations by artisans, and dedicated retail spaces where artisans display and sell their handmade products - SPA
​​​​​​​The program also includes workshops, live demonstrations by artisans, and dedicated retail spaces where artisans display and sell their handmade products - SPA
TT

Heritage Commission Launches Cultural Events to Mark World Heritage Day

​​​​​​​The program also includes workshops, live demonstrations by artisans, and dedicated retail spaces where artisans display and sell their handmade products - SPA
​​​​​​​The program also includes workshops, live demonstrations by artisans, and dedicated retail spaces where artisans display and sell their handmade products - SPA

To mark World Heritage Day, observed annually on April 18, the Heritage Commission has launched a series of heritage and cultural events, taking place from April 16 to 21 at the Laysen Valley in Riyadh, to raise public awareness of the importance of national heritage by highlighting World Heritage Sites in the Kingdom and affirming their significance on the global map.
The events feature a variety of activities designed to offer an exceptional experience, allowing visitors to explore the Kingdom's rich heritage.

They showcase the cultural significance in an innovative way, blending interactive experiences to inspire a deeper appreciation of national heritage, SPA reported.
Among the highlights are drone shows on April 18 at the Heritage Valley area, a designated children's area, and pavilions showcasing heritage arts and handicrafts.
The program also includes workshops, live demonstrations by artisans, and dedicated retail spaces where artisans display and sell their handmade products.
The commission is keen to prepare for and celebrate this day as a vital means of honoring the Kingdom's rich heritage and creatively showcasing its cultural components and historical depth to all segments of society.



Greece Takes Legal Action over Drone Show Advertising Adidas near Acropolis

A view of the Parthenon temple as the Acropolis hill archaeological site is closed to visitors due to a heatwave hitting Athens, Greece, June 12, 2024. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis
A view of the Parthenon temple as the Acropolis hill archaeological site is closed to visitors due to a heatwave hitting Athens, Greece, June 12, 2024. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis
TT

Greece Takes Legal Action over Drone Show Advertising Adidas near Acropolis

A view of the Parthenon temple as the Acropolis hill archaeological site is closed to visitors due to a heatwave hitting Athens, Greece, June 12, 2024. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis
A view of the Parthenon temple as the Acropolis hill archaeological site is closed to visitors due to a heatwave hitting Athens, Greece, June 12, 2024. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

Greece has filed a lawsuit over the alleged violation of a law for the protection of antiquities by what appeared to be a drone show advertising sports retailer Adidas near the Acropolis, its culture minister said on Friday.

Images on social media showed illuminated drones forming the logo and a shoe by Adidas with the Acropolis hill, a UNESCO world heritage site, in the background, Reuters reported.

The Acropolis, a rocky outcrop over Athens, houses the Parthenon Temple - a symbol of Athens' Golden age that was built in 432 B.C. to honour the goddess Athena, and is one of the most visited sites worldwide.

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said in an interview on Friday that the show used the Acropolis for commercial purposes against a national law and took place without prior approval from the Culture Ministry.

"It's like the Adidas shoe kicking the Acropolis," Mendoni told local Skai radio. "A lawsuit has been already filed against anyone responsible."

Adidas declined to comment.

The culture ministry said it was also investigating whether the licensing procedure for the drone overflight had been followed.

The move comes weeks after Greece dismissed a request by director Yorgos Lathimos to film scenes of his upcoming "Bugonia" movies on the Acropolis hill on the grounds they were incompatible with what the ancient Greek monument symbolised.