Why Zag? Zag, Noun: Zag by most definitions is defined as a sudden change of direction. In familiarizing oneself with Zag Sports it is important to understand the culture of Zag. We at Zag Sports hope our international sports experiences and adventures provide our teams, youth, and their families a change of direction or a Zag in their life. Travel is a wonderful educational tool and our experiences are carefully designed to allow our athletes to stretch themselves, whether it is on the field of play, through adventure activities, through cultural interaction, or through volunteer experiences. Our sincere hope is to provide international experiences which will positively impact the lives of those participating. Why are so many great international, college, high school, and club hockey teams turning to Zag to develop their international touring experience? Here s why we are different? Hockey tours by hockey people. We are leaders in that we are the only team touring organization whose majority ownership, operating staff abroad, and other critical staff are current high level hockey people. Many are D1 coaches or former D1 coaches who understand the needs of our U.S. teams on the field and more importantly have a passion game and for the athletes they work to develop. Changing lives and giving back. We are pioneers in a new breed of hockey tour we have coined Philanthropic Hockey Tours. We feel a responsibility to develop international hockey experiences which also serve as vehicles to serve a greater good. Every Zag experience has a required element of international community service. It may be working with Habitat for Humanity for ½ day, giving hope to Argentine orphans, working with Aboriginal children in Australia, or working with villagers in South Africa. International service has been a part of our fabric since our inception. Not only do we work to give back on tour we also give a portion of proceeds to our not for profit partners at World Vision and others. Whatever the hockey playing country we visit there is opportunity opportunity to make a difference. Interactive cultural and adventure experiences. We strive to develop creative activities which work to expose the athletes to the culture from the inside out. Seeing history and culture is important, but experiencing it is what we do at Zag! Whether it be homestay with an Argentine family, a pizza making lesson with an Italian Pizza chef, surfing like an Aussie, or taking on the rapids of the Swiss Alps, we hope that our experiences challenge our athletes to grow in ways they have never thought possible. Passion. We do this because we have a passion for what we do. A passion to make a difference in some small way. A passion to develop the whole person off the field and the elite athlete and team on the field. www.zagfieldhockey.com 1 800 Denow Road Suite C # 373 Pennington, NJ 08534 USA Phone: 1-800-530-7924 ext 2 Fax: 1-800-530-7924 info@zagfieldhockey.com
Appendix A Zag Greece (preliminary tour overview) Day 1(October 14th) (See daily activity descriptions starting on page 6) Arrive at Orlando at 8:30am Departure from Orlando at 11:35am via Delta 2114 Connect in JFK to Athens Due to the time differences you will land in Greece next day. Day 2 Arrival in Athens at 10am and meeting with a local bilingual tour manager (English/ Greek) who will remain with you for the whole of your stay in Greece Transfer to hotel, lunch(included), check in. Meet with Stelios to review schedule Free afternoon to explore local area and beaches Change and dinner on your own around hotel-stelios will reserve(students pay) Dinner and overnight (1 nights) Day 3 Early breakfast at your hotel Transfer to Piraeus at 7.30am. Departure by boat to Santorini, on the west coast. Arrival scheduled at 1.15 pm and transfer to your selected 3 stars sup. Lunch at hotel(included) Acclimate and leisure at the beach Dinner in Thira on your own and overnight at your hotel (2 nights) -Stelios to reserve-team pays Day 4 -- Breakfast at your hotel 10am departure by boat for Caldera and the volcanic remains. Transfer to archeological site of Akrotiri, the prehistoric Pompeii of the Aegean 1pm return to hotel. Lunch at hotel included Spend the rest of th eday at Oia, the village of the iconic white houses. Dinner on your own-stelios to reserve-team pays. 2
Day 5 Breakfast at your hotel and check-out Leisure time at the beach or to explore the surroundings. At about 1.00 pm transfer to the local harbor in time to get the boat to Piraeus 14:15 Departure of the boat to Piraeus. Arrival in Piraeus scheduled at 7.45 pm where your bus driver will be waiting for you to transfer your group to your selected 3 stars sup./ 4 stars hotel in Athens Dinner at hotel(included)and overnight (3 nights) Day 6 Breakfast at your hotel Visit of the Hellenic Olympic Committee (www.hoc.gr) for a 1h. Presentation. Visit the Special Olympics children for Zag Service #1 2 hours Cycling tour, through the most attractive archeological site of Athens. Lunch on your own and time to explore. Greek cultural cooking lesson-dinner Include Transfer back to the hotel Day 7 Breakfast at your hotel and transfer to downtown Athens. Half Day, Athens City Tour. Guided visit of the Acropolis Museum, the Parthenon, Erodion theatre & Caryatids. Following the Panathinaic stadium, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier ( take pictures of the guards), the Parliament House, the Presidential Manison, &PanepistimiouAvenue with its Neoclassical Architecture. Time to spend at Monastiraki and Plaka. Visit www.kivotostoukosmou.org for Zag Service #2 Lunch on your own & time to rest. Transfer to Cape Sounio for the guided visit to the Temple of Apollo. Transfer back to the hotel for the dinner Day 8 Breakfast at the hotel and departure by bus to Delphi. Guided tour of Delphi visiting the temple of Apollo, the Sanctuary, the archeological museum with the famous Charioteer (Heniohos) e.t.c. Transfer back to Athens stopping at the mountain town of Arachova. Farewell Dinner in a traditional Greek restaurant Day 9 October 22nd Breakfast at your hotel and check out 8:30am transfer to the airport of Athens in time to get your flight back home 12pm departure for JFK via Delta 213 4:15pm Arrival at JFK Depart for Orlando at 7:25pm 10:30pm arrival at Orlando via Delta 219 3 Thanks for the memories!
-Round-trip airfare to Athens from JFK(Subject to change) AA1661 14OCT Orlando to Philadelphia 1007A 1228P AA 758 14OCT Philadelphia to Athens 415P 910A#1 AA 759 22OCT Athens to Philadelphia 1145A 345P AA1896 22OCT Philadelphia to Orlando 654P 925P -Fuel tax of 250usd at time of booking(2/13-subject to increases) -1 Bag -3-4 Star Euro Hotels -Continental Breakfast Daily -Lunch or Dinner Daily -Charter bus to games and activities noted. -Local Bilingual Tour Manager -Entry and Tours as Noted -Round trip Ferry -Zag Culture Cooking Lesson/City Tours -Zag Give Back School Visit -24 hour Zag office assistance -Basic Travel and Health/Medex Policy -General Liability Insurance -1 Free Chaperone Tour Exclusions: -Passport -Fuel charge increases above 250usd(as of 2/13) -2nd Bag -Trainer -washing uniforms/gear -Drinks at Meals -1 meal per day -Other items and activities not noted as included -Increases in Fuel Prices/Airline Taxes beyond those included at booking -Decline in exchange rate. Important Items: *Taxes and Fuel Surcharges at booking *Single/twin room may require supplement. *Parents pricing will vary according to number of parents per room. *Based on rate of Euro at booking. Changes in the currency will require price adjustments until paid in full. We use XE.com as our measurement. *Zag reserves the right to adjust the itinerary for safety issues or other items that are in the best interest of the integrity of the program. *Itinerary is suggested and will change according to final games/practices, and other activities as needed. *See payment timeline in action list 4
Estimated Pricing: Price(3 per room) $2299 Based on a minimum of 20 paying participants. Price(3 per room) $2199 Based on a minimum of 25 paying participants. *1 per room supplement-300usd per *Fly from Athens to Santorini to Athens estimated at 100-125usd per person. Ferry is currently included. Payment Details: 1st payment of 500usd per person due as soon as approved 2nd payment of 1000usd due July 1st Final payment plus any changes in fuel surcharges/currency due September 1st *Deposit less 100usd is refundable until 91days prior to departure *Cancellation after 90 days will incur 300usd penalty *Cancellation after 60 days prior to the trip will result in full forfeiture of tour balance. *Please send payments to: Zag Sports 800 Denow Road Suite C # 373 Pennington, NJ 08534 USA 5
Days 2 & 3 Santorini Classically Thera and officially Thira, is an island in the southern Aegean Sea and a member of the Cyclades group of islands. The island is the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history: the Minoan eruption, which occurred some 3,600 years ago at the height of the Minoan civilization. The eruption left a large caldera surrounded by volcanic ash deposits hundreds of metres deep and may have led indirectly to the collapse of the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete, 110 km (68 mi) to the south, through a gigantic tsunami. Another popular theory holds that the Thera eruption is the source of the legend of Atlantis. Santorini is essentially what remains after an enormous volcanic eruption that destroyed the earliest settlements on a formerly single island, and created the current geological caldera. Akrotiri is a Minoan Bronze Age settlement on the volcanic Greek island of Santorini (Thera). The settlement was destroyed in the Theran eruption about 1627 BC and buried in volcanic ash, which preserved the remains of fine frescoes and many objects and artworks. The settlement has been suggested as a possible inspiration for Plato's story of Atlantis. The site has been excavated since 1967. Oia pronounced Ia, is the most famous of all villages of Santorini. It is known throughout the world for its quiet life and fantastic sunset, and is certainly the most beautiful and picturesque village of Santorini. The village is also situated on top of an impressive cliff and offers a spectacular view over the volcano of Palia and Nea Kameni and the island of Thirassia. It is a traditional village with charming houses in narrow streets, blue domed churches, and sun-bathed verandas. Its streets have plenty of tourist shops, taverns, cafes, and other shops. For more information: www.santorini.gr Day 5 OAKA (Olympic Athletic Center of Athens) The Olympic Stadium of Athens Spiros Louis is named after the first modern Olympic marathon race winner in 1896, Spiros, Louis. It was extensively renovated in time for the 2004 Summer Olympics, including a roof designed by Santiago Calatrava. The stadium's attendance was reduced to 71,030 for the Olympics, the initial capacity was some 75,000.The sports complex consists of state of the art sport facilities which include the main Olympic stadium, the Olympic Indoor Sports Center, Velodromes, indoor training hall, Olympic tennis center, doping control center, ergometer center, Roman corner, Wall of Nations and Forum. It also hosted the opening ceremony and the closing ceremony of The Olympic Games 2004. For more information: www.oaka.com.gr Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) The mission of the HOC is to oversee and act to ensure the development, promotion and safeguarding of the Olympic Movement, the spirit of fair play and out-of-school physical activity, in accordance with the principles of the Olympic Ideal and the traditions of the Hellenic sport. At the premises, the students will be lectured by in the following courses: 1) Olympic Movement & 2) Ancient Olympic History and Politcs. For more information: www.hoc.gr 6
Special Olympics Hellas The mission is to offer throughout the year, training and opportunities for participation in competitions, children and adults with intellectual disabilities in a variety of Olympic sports. At the same time enabling them to develop physically, mentally, socially and spiritually, sharing the joy of sports, in an environment of respect and acceptance. Meanwhile, the Special Olympics, through educational and cultural programs (in cooperation with several Greeks Universities) and the Unified programs (social inclusion through sports participation), Unify (with peers coexistence without intellectual disability) Young Athletes, Healthy Athletes, athletes with physical and mental disabilities (Motor Activities Training Program), Sportsman Leaders and the Volunteer Program, whose main objective is the awareness of society on issues related to people with intellectual disabilities, but also the emergence of volunteer movement in Greece. For more information: www.specialolympicshellas.gr Athens Bike Tour The Athens Bike Tour perfectly meets the modern trend in worldwide tourism! It is fun, educational and the ideal way for active people to visit the most interesting sights and monuments revealing the unique history of Greece s capital. Everyone can join this journey back in time and get to know Athens from different point of view. We cycle at a nice, relaxed pace, on quiet streets and narrow paths, making many stops at must see locations of ancient Athens. On this enjoyable guided cycling tour around the Acropolis we don t lose sight of this wonderful jewel of Athens even while enjoying our coffee break! You see almost everything as you cycle through the most beautiful archeological sites of Athens! Activity s Description 9 Km on an easy route at a relaxed pace. Approximately 2 hours, including a coffee break at the slopes of Acropolis. We allocate the group into teams of 10-15 pax, each one accompanied by an English speaking facilitator. DAY 6 "Ark of the World" is Voluntary Nonprofit Organization Special Care and Protection Mother and Child. Active addressed first and foremost in small unprotected children, the majority of single parent families, and many without parents experiencing difficult conditions, neglect and abandonment, without medical care with an uncertain future. The Ark covers entirely and takes care of unprotected children. Athens City Tour Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. It is one of the world s oldest cities. Athens is widely referred to as the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy. The tour includes: - Presidents & Prime Ministers House - Andrian s Arc - Greek Parliament - Zappeion & Temple of Zeus - Constitution Square - National Garden - Panathenaic Stadium 7
We will also visit the famously known and world heritage site, the Acropolis of Athens. The Acropolis is an ancient citadel located on a high rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and containing the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance. On the Acropolis we will walk and visit the following: Parthenon: It is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece. It is an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece, Athenian democracy and western civilization The Propylaea: gateway and entrance to the Acropolis The Erectheum: ancient Greek temple dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon Temple of Athena Nike: Built around 420BC. Nike means victory in Greek and Athena was worshipped in this form, as goddess of victory in war and wisdom Athens City Tour is not complete if we do not visit the new Acropolis Museum. Plaka Plaka originates from the days of the Greek revolution. Under the Acropolis Plaka was built by the first construction workers that come from Anafi Cycladic Island and built Athens main buildings. The settlement of Anafiotika was created in the 19th century by migrants from the Cycladic island of Anafi. They built their houses on the steep slopes of the Acropolis in their traditional island style. Thus, they created a small village with white-washed houses and narrow paths between them. The village comes complete with a tiny church dedicated to St George. A closer look will reveal that the marble used for the construction of the church was taken from an ancient temple. Today is the main touristic attraction of Athens. Monastiraki Monastiraki is a flea market in the old town of Athens, Greece where bargaining used to be the norm. Nowadays, it is the best place to buy souvenirs from Greece at low prices, without necessarily having to bargain. Monastiraki is also the place where you can find antique furniture and is the home of coin -and not only- collectors. Constitution Square Constitution (Syntagma in Greek) is the square in front of the Parliament (formerly the King's Palace, built between 1836 and 1840 by King Otto and financed by his father Ludwig I of Bavaria) and it is considered the main square of Athens.At the west (bottom) part of Syntagma square is the beggining of Ermou Street (the main shopping district of Athens) that leads to Monastiraki square. Also in Syntagma square there is the monument of the Unknown Soldier which is guarded day and night by soldiers who are wearing the traditional Greek uniform and they called Evzones Panathenaic Stadium The Panathenaic Stadium is a classical & cultural monument of Greece. The stadium is significant and impressive both for its history and for its U-shape which seats more than 70, 000 people For many centuries it hosted games in which nude male athletes completed in track events. Its rich history is directly connected to the Moderon Olympic Games as from their revival in 1896 until the Athens Olympic Games in 2004. It is also the place from where the Olympic Flame sets up its journey to the cities of the Olympic Games, winter, summer and youth. For more information: www.panathenaicstadium.gr Cape Sounio is the site of ruins of an ancient Greek Temple of Poseidon, who is the god of the sea in classical mythology. It is one of the most popular and picturesque places in Attica. The cape is located 69km southeast of Athens and it was built in 444 BC standing on the site of an older temple. On one of the columns there is a grafitto left by one of the most famous poets, Lord Byron. Byron was inspired by the location of Cape Sounio and his engravings depict this inspiration. Its location is so ideal, that from the ancient ruins you can view the beautiful sunset. Since it is on the edge of a cliff, you can enjoy the scenery of the Temple of Aphaia on the island of Aegina and the Acropolis. The cliff is a 197 foot drop to the sea! 8
DAY 7 Delphi High above the Gulf of Corinth, in the holy Mountain of Parnassos, surrounded by a forest of pines, lie the shrine of the God Apollo Delphi. For many centuries the voice of Delphi, the most important sanctuary, was the absolute guiding power to the Greeks. People as well cities visited it in order to get answers and guidance for their future and destiny. The oracles were listened and obeyed and their suggestive power was such, that wars were won or lost, by a few words of Pythia. The archaeological site of Delphi includes two sanctuaries, dedicated to Apollo and Athena, and other buildings, mostly intended for sports. The central, most important part of the site was the sanctuary of Apollo, which was surrounded by the usual peribolos, or enclosure wall, with a main gate at its southeast corner. From here visitors entered the Sacred Way that led to the temple of Apollo with its famous adyton, where Pythia delivered her oracles. Temple of Apollo The temple of Apollo, the most important building in the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, dominates the temenos from its central position. This is where the statues and other offerings to the gods were kept, and where the cult rituals, including that of divination, took place. Tholos of AthinaPronaia The tholos of the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia, clearly visible from above, is perhaps the most characteristic monument at Delphi and the most important building of this small sanctuary. Ancient Theatre of Delphi The theatre of Delphi, one of the few theatres in Greece for which we know the exact date and design, is located inside the temenos of Apollo and against the north east corner of its peribolos, or enclosure wall. Archaeological Museum Delphi The Archaeological Museum of Delphi, one of the most important in Greece, exhibits the history of the Delphic sanctuary, site of the most famous ancient Greek oracle. Its rich collections are comprised primarily of architectural sculptures, statues and minor objects donated to the sanctuary. These reflect its religious, political and artistic activities from its early years in the eighth century BC to its decline in the Late Antiquity The Charioteer (Heniochos) The bronze statue was found at Delphi and originally belonged to a larger group, which represented a chariot with four horses from which only small fragments survived. Its height is 1.8m and is made up from six separate cast parts. 8