Refugees fleeing a fallen city founded one of Greece's greatest sports clubs in 1924
Born from the displacement of thousands, the Greek sports giant A.E.K. was established by refugees who used athletics to preserve the culture and identity of their lost home in Constantinople.
In 1924, Greek refugees fleeing the aftermath of the Greco-Turkish War gathered in an Athens shoe shop to found A.E.K., the Athletic Union of Constantinople. These families had lost their homes but refused to lose their heritage, choosing the double-headed eagle as their emblem to represent their Byzantine roots.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 3-question quiz