Dimitris Gargalianos
Associate Professor, Democritos University of Thrace
Dimitris Gargalianos was born in Thessaloniki in 1959. As an athlete with Iraklis Thessaloniki, he achieved distinctions at both national and international levels in the 110m hurdles.
He holds:
a) a degree in Physical Education (School of Physical Education and Sport Science, Thessaloniki, 1980),
b) a Master’s degree in “Sport Organization & Management” (Springfield College, Massachusetts, 1983, awarded with a scholarship from the General Secretariat of Sports),
c) a degree in International Relations (Panteion University, 1993),
d) a PhD in International Relations of Sport (School of Physical Education and Sport Science, Komotini, 1996), and
e) a Diploma in Communication Management (University of Technology Sydney, 2000).
He began his professional career at SEGAS (Hellenic Athletics Federation), where he worked as a technical advisor in education and statistics (1985–1990). He then collaborated with the General Secretariat of Sports as an international relations advisor (1990–1992).
In May 1992, he was elected Lecturer at the School of Physical Education and Sport Science of Democritus University of Thrace, where he currently serves as Professor in the field of Sport Organization & Management.
He is a founding member of the Hellenic Scientific Society of Sport Management & Recreation, serving as its President from 1993 to 1999 and as General Secretary until 2011.
He gained experience in organizing Olympic Games by working:
a) with the Sydney 2000 Organizing Committee (June 1998 – November 2000),
b) with the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee as a consultant to the Communication Directorate (2002–2003), and
c) with the United States Olympic Committee as a liaison with ATHOC “Athens 2004”.
He collaborates with the International Olympic Academy.
He has authored three books (“Sport and Foreign Policy,” “Sports Facilities,” “Sport in Local Government”) and coordinated the publication of four others (“Sport Management,” “Sport Management – An Interdisciplinary Approach,” “Structure and Organization of Greek Sport – 1st and 2nd editions”).
He has published in international and Greek scientific journals and has presented research at international and Greek scientific conferences.