(Post updated May 16th to include Festival schedule; see below). It has been officially announced that Kalymnos will host a climbing festival between May 18-22, 2011, featuring Patxi Usobiaga and Nicolas Favresse. As reported here by the organizing committee, festival events include: “Climbing with the Stars: Climb side-by-side with famous climbers / Stars’ Presentations: See what our special guests managed and how they did it / Kalymnos Guidebook: Presentation of the new edition (2010) by the author / Treasure Hunt: Discover hidden gift coupons while climbing & collect as many as you can / Bouldering Contest / Photo Contest / Parties”. Participation in all festival events is free and open to everyone. The 2011 Kalymnos Climbing Festival is put together by the Municipality of Kalymnos, the Kalymnos Hoteliers Association and the Kalymnos Climbing Club. For the official page of the Kalymnos climbing festival please click here.

CLIMBING FESTIVAL SCHEDULE (updated May 16th):

DAY 1: Wednesday 18 May

Morning
– Registration / Festival information at designated check-in & info points (see below). Registration will be open throughout the duration of the festival.

Check-in & info points:
1. Municipal Tourist office (Pothia port)
2. Elies Hotel lobby (Panormos)
3. Philoxenia Hotel lobby (Armeos)

Evening
Opening Ceremony
– Welcome address by the Mayor of Kalymnos, Dimitris Diakomichalis
– Brief welcome speech by representatives of the Greek National Tourism Organization & DVD presentation
– Slideshow of climbing photography by local photographers
– DVD presentation of previous climbing festivals.
Where & When: Plaza Hotel (Masouri) @ 21.00
_________________________

DAY 2: Thursday 19 May

Morning
– Free climbing

Evening
– Presentation of the new Kalymnos Guidebook by author Aris Theodoropoulos
Where & When: Philoxenia Hotel (Armeos) @ 21.00
_________________________

DAY 3: Friday 20 May

Morning
– Free climbing

Evening
– Presentation and slideshow by special guest Nicolas Favresse
Where & When: Elies Hotel (Panormos) @ 21.00
_________________________

DAY 4: Saturday 21 May
Morning
– Free climbing

Evening
– ‘Climbing Tourism: Prospects & Future Steps’
Talk / Press Conference with the Greek Deputy Minister of Culture & Tourism, Giorgos Nikitiadis.
Where & When: Municipal Cultural Center (Pothia) @ 18.00

– Bouldering Competition
Where & When: Pothia Main Square @ 19.00
_________________________

DAY 5: Sunday 22 May

Morning
– Free climbing

Evening
Closing Ceremony
– Children’s bouldering performance
– Photo competition: winners and award ceremony
– Kalymnian dances by the local branch of the Lyceum Club of Greek Women
Where & When: Pothia Main Square @ 21.00
_________________________

Other Festival events
– Treasure Hunt: Throughout the Festival participants look for hidden gift coupons on various climbing routes; gifts can be picked up later from the Festival organizers.

– “Climbing in Kalymnos” Photo Competition: Terms & Conditions at the Festival check-in & info points, also here and here.

Winners will be announced and awarded during the Closing Ceremony.

Last but not least, here are two clips from the previous climbing festival of Kalymnos (2009) by Greek climbers Pavlos Tsiantos and Christos Tsoutsias.