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Olympic Games

Olympic Torch On Its Way to Rio 2016

2016-04-22 by Phil Butler

Olympic torch

The countdown has begun for the Games of the XXXI Olympiad. Yesterday at te Temple of Hera in Olympia, the eternal flame was lit, then passed from Greek gymnast Eleftherios Petrounias on to Giovane Gávio, Brazil’s double Olympic-medal-winning volleyball champion.

Tags: Greece, Olympic Games, Olympic Torch, Olympics, Rio 2016, Rio Olympics

Poland Votes Down Winter Games Bid: Slovakia Loses in Turn

2014-05-29 by Aleksandr Shatskih

Slovakia skiing

A bit of bad news for Poland and Slovakia, a referendum vote from the Polish city of Krakow carried out May 26 tells of citizens in the Polish city wanting to withdraw a bid for the Winter Olympic Games in 2022, part of which was to have taken place in Slovakia.

Tags: Olympic Games, Poland games, Poland sports, Slovakia events, Slovakia skiing, Slovakia travel

Paradise That Time Forgot: The Pearl of the Caucasus

2013-04-18 by Phil Butler

The Borjomi Valley

Before Miami Beach became a hotspot in the early 20th Century, when Tahiti was an as yet unheard of travel paradise, Borjomi in Georgia was a garden of delight for generations. As far back as the early 1800’s the tropical climate and crystal mineral waters of Borjomi were a prized commodity.

Tags: Borjomi, IOC, Nodar Kumaritashvili, Olympic Games, Sochi, Vancouver 2010

If Sochi Were Disney World Headlines Would Read: “Mickey Wacked by Russian Mob”

2013-04-03 by Phil Butler

The Russia reality, Putin with Olympic officials

On Monday the WTM Vision Conference in Moscow kicked off and already tourism figures for Russia emerge as a big topic. According to new research, Russia’s poor image in the western world drastically affects inbound tourism form American and western Europe as well. If Sochi were Disney World Mickey would have already been whacked by the mob.

Tags: Adler, bad press, Black Sea tourism, Black Sea vacations, Crimea tourism, Olympic Games, Russia propaganda, Russia tourism, Russia travel, Russia vacations, Russian government, Russian mob, smear campaigns, Sochi, Sochi resort, Sochi travel, Vancouver Olympics, West propaganda, Western Press, WTM

Sochi 2013 Coming Highlights: The Russia & CIS Hotel Investment Conference

2013-03-19 by Aleksandr Shatskih

From last year's event

News from the Russia & CIS Hotel Investment Conference (RHIC) taking place October 21st – 23rd at the Radisson Blu Resort & Congress Hotel in Sochi, Russia, also heralds the coming of the much anticipated 2014 Olympic Winter Games there. The news from Bench Events and Questex Media Group LLC, the co-organizers of the event, promises yet another premier hotel investment event.

Tags: hotel events, hotel investing, Olympic Games, Russia conferences, Russia travel, Sochi conferences, Sochi hotels, Sochi travel

Sochi Mayor Plans on Freezing Transportation Fares for 2014 Games

2013-03-14 by Phil Butler

Anatoliy Pakhomov thanks Police officer

Sochi’s Mayor, Anatoliy Pakhomov, submitted a proposal recently to freeze all air and rail ticket prices to Sochi until after the Olympics. Fearing the negative impact of potentially skyrocketed prices for the games, the freeze is suggested simply for the times surrounding the 2014 Olympics.

Tags: Anatoliy Pakhomov, IOC, Olympic Games, Russia sports, Sochi 2014, Sochi Games, Sochi mayor, Sochi Olympics, Vladimir Putin

Russian Ministers Admit Some Sochi Errors

2012-12-28 by Phil Butler

Bolshoy Ice Dome in Sochi

As Sochi ramps up preparations for the Olympics of 2014, the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has admitted to certain mistakes having been made in the early days of their preparations there. Now a so-called “rehabilitation plan” will be set in place to rectify some environmental mishaps.

Tags: Environment, Environmentalists, IOC, Nodar Kumaritashvili, Olympic Games, Olympics, Sochi 2014, Sochi Olympics, Winter Games

MapsofWorld Presents: The Olympic Saga

2012-07-17 by Aleksandr Shatskih

The Olympics Saga By Mapsofworld

London 2012 is coming up and MapsofWorld has decided to offer up a mapped out history of the Olympic Games. Cartography, technology and data research are applied to this informative from MapsofWorld with their launch of “The Olympics Saga.” The map plots not only the locations of each Summer games, but also points of particular interest bout specific events, including mascots.

Tags: London 2012, Olympic Cities, Olympic Games, Olympic maps, the Games, the Olympics

London Olympics: Latest Travel Advice

2012-03-26 by Aleksandr Shatskih

London 2012

An avalanche of tourists is expected to hit London this summer for the Olympic Games. Hotels and airports are expecting to be deluged by almost 9 million visitors eager to welcome the world famous Olympic Flame.

Tags: 2012 Olympics, London Olympics, Olympic Games, summer events

Buy Your London Olympic Rooms Now

2012-01-27 by Aleksandr Shatskih

London 2012

The upcoming Olympic Games in London, it should come as no surprise, will see a travel boom the likes of which has never before been seen. London, already the world’s top destination on many accounts, is looking like the toughest ticket in the world soon.

Tags: 2012 Olympics, 2012 Summer Games, Britain games, Britain Olympics, hotels in London, London 2012, London accommodating, london hotels, London Olympics, Olympic Games, Olympic watch, Summer Games, Summer Games 2012, Visit Britain

Russia Ready For Tourists – Bureaucrats Are Not

2011-01-03 by Phil Butler

The world famous Qol Sharif Monsque in Russia

The Russian Federation faces some big challenges ahead. Not the least of these is transforming the country’s travel and tourism industry to be on a par with other developed nations. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and some of his deputies seem tasked more with spurring an inept bureaucracy than tackling infrastructure problems. Roads can be built, but incompetence seems to last forever.

Tags: Dmitry Medvedev, FIFA 2018, inbound tourism, Minister of Sport, moscow, Moscow airport, Olympic Games, Russia tourism, Russian Federation, Sochi, UNESCO, Vitaly Mutko

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Featured Stories

The Six Pufferfish Species Found in Greek Waters

Manolis Mylonakis Saves Another Life at Balos

Lifeguard Saves 10-Year-Old Boy from Drowning at Balos Lagoon

Morosini Fountain enclosed

Bureaucracy Is Heraklion’s Most Enduring Monument

Kapriko

Galatas Pediadas Celebrates the 29th Kapriko Festival on July 10-11

Crete animal cruelty

Confronting the Culture of Animal Cruelty in Crete

Why We Embrace AI

At Argophilia, we believe in using every tool at our disposal to bring you the stories that matter. You may notice a certain precision in our data analysis, a specific flair in our visuals, or a rapid turnaround on complex topics. That is no accident—it is the result of our rampant use of artificial intelligence.

We use Gemini to help synthesize data, structure our reporting, and ensure our news remains as sharp as the reality we cover. When it comes to our imagery, we rely on the creative power of Midjourney and NightCafe, unless otherwise noted in our editorial credits.

We are not apologetic for this. In a fast-moving world, these tools allow us to focus on what really counts: investigating the issues, giving a voice to the marginalized, and maintaining the journalistic integrity you expect from us. We see AI not as a replacement for human judgment, but as an engine that amplifies our ability to inform, analyze, and tell the truth about our island and beyond.

We are writers and journalists first—but we are proud to be tech-enabled ones, too.

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Stories of Interest

The Six Pufferfish Species Found in Greek Waters

2026-07-08 By Mihaela Lica Butler

From the infamous Silver-cheeked Toadfish, whose powerful bite and deadly toxin have made headlines across the Mediterranean, to tiny deep-water species that most swimmers will never encounter, these invasive fish are now part of Greece’s marine life.

spearfishing diver AI illustration

Search Intensifies After Missing Spearfisher’s Gear Found Off Frangokastello

2026-07-08 By Manuel Santos

A Frontex thermal drone and multiple vessels search for a 65-year-old missing spearfisherman in Crete after his gear was found 5 nautical miles offshore.

Silver Nova pool deck

Luxury Cruise Ship Silver Nova Makes First Visit to Heraklion

2026-07-08 By Argophilia Travel News

Heraklion welcomed a new addition to its growing cruise portfolio this week as the luxury cruise ship Silver Nova made its first-ever visit to the Cretan capital. The maiden call was marked by the traditional plaque exchange ceremony aboard the vessel, attended by representatives of the Heraklion Port Authority, the Hellenic Coast Guard, and the […]

Chania market reopening 2026

Chania Municipal Market Targets September Reopening After Years of Restoration

2026-07-08 By Iorgos Pappas

Chania’s restored Municipal Market is expected to reopen in September, with shop owners beginning work on their premises during July.

Heraklion restaurants

Heraklion Restaurants See Plenty of Visitors but Less Spending This Summer

2026-07-08 By Victoria Udrea

Heraklion’s hospitality sector says visitor numbers remain strong, but cautious spending and rising costs are squeezing restaurant businesses.

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