THESSALONIKI, GREECE – A wave of relief swept through Thessaloniki on Wednesday morning, March 4, 2026, as the Aris BC U18 basketball mission finally touched down on Greek soil. Arriving shortly after 10:00 AM, the young athletes were met with tears, embraces, and applause from family and friends, marking the end of a harrowing four-day ordeal that saw them stranded in a conflict zone during their participation in an international tournament.
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The mission had traveled to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, for the EuroLeague NextGen qualifying tournament. What began as a celebration of youth sports turned into a nightmare last Saturday when Iranian strikes targeted the city.
Nikos Tzoras, General Manager of the Aris Basketball Academy, described the terrifying moment the game was interrupted: "We heard explosions. We heard aerial attacks; we didn't know what was happening. We were immediately moved to a safe spot in the lower part of the stadium, in the underground parking lot."
After the initial chaos, the team was relocated to a hotel, where they remained under lockdown for several days. Upon his return, Mr. Tzoras expressed immense relief: "We are all home and we are all safe; that is the most important thing. Our main concern now is for those who stayed behind to return as well."
For the coaching staff, the challenge was twofold: ensuring physical safety and maintaining the psychological stability of the teenage players. Andreas Kesapidis, the U18 head coach, spoke about the surreal shift in priorities: "When you start out to go play basketball and end up wondering when you’ll return home with young children in your care, it’s deeply concerning."
Coach Kesapidis explained that the team had to follow strict safety protocols as sirens and emergency mobile alerts (similar to 112) sounded three to four times a day. "There were moments when we could see the interceptions from the window. We tried to keep the kids away from the glass and as calm as possible. The children were incredibly responsible despite their age," he added, noting that the final night was the most difficult due to the visible anxiety of the locals.
The safe return was the result of a coordinated effort between EuroLeague, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Prime Minister’s office. Harris Papageorgiou, President of Aris BC, publicly thanked the various embassies and the Greek government for their swift reflexes.
The team flew via charter to Istanbul, where they were met by the Greek Consul General, who personally oversaw their road transport to the Greek border and eventually to Thessaloniki. Giannis Papageorgiou, coordinator of the Prime Minister’s office in Thessaloniki, emphasized the government’s role: "The Greek government acted quickly and showed its reflexes. We considered a bus the safest option for the final leg of the journey."
Kyriakos Chamouzas, Vice President of AS Aris, revealed that logistical hurdles arose upon their arrival in Istanbul, which were resolved immediately through diplomatic intervention.
The emotional weight of the crisis was most evident in the accounts of the parents waiting at the terminal. Theodora Balaka, mother of 16-year-old Joseph Symeonidis, shared her trauma: "When I first heard about the bombings, it was indescribable. It was a nightmare. The children were calm and reassured us, but from a distance, we perceived the situation very differently."
Similarly, Vasiliki Tsiatsou, mother of 16-year-old Marios Messiniotis, highlighted the importance of psychological support during the lockdown: "All these days, the children were giving us courage and we were giving it back to them. I advised him to always have his phone charged and his passport on him."
While the return of the players is a victory, the crisis is not over. Over 10 parents and chaperones remain stranded in Abu Dhabi due to flight cancellations and limited capacity on the evacuation transport.
"Our minds are with the escorts who are still there," stressed Mr. Chamouzas. Aris BC officials confirmed they are in constant communication with the Greek Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the EuroLeague to ensure the safe repatriation of the remaining group members within the next 48 hours.
The return of the Aris U18 team serves as a stark reminder of the volatility of international travel in the current geopolitical climate. These young athletes returned not just with basketball experience, but with a profound lesson in resilience and crisis management.
As Thessaloniki celebrates the return of its "children," the focus remains firmly on the diplomatic channels working to bring the remaining parents home. The empty hotel rooms in Abu Dhabi and the silent basketball courts stand as a testament to a tournament interrupted by the harsh reality of war.
