General Information
Dates & place
15-18 June 2011, Athens, Greece
Congress Venue
Megaron Athens International Conference Centre
Vas. Sofias & Kokkali, 115 21, Athens, Greece
http://www.megaron.gr/scripts/megaro/MAICCBrochure.pdf
General Information for Athens and Greece
Climate
Athens enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate, ample sunshine, and its trademark blue skies for about 320 days per year. The average temperature, during late summer in Athens, ranges from 22o to 28o Celsius.
Currency
The currency of Greece is the Euro (€).
All major credit cards are widely accepted in Greece.
Population
- Total population in Greece: 10.3 million
- Athens metropolitan area (Attica region): 3,756,607 persons according to the 2001 census
Language
Modern Greek is the official language. Most Greeks speak English as well as French and German.
Time
Greece is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and an hour ahead of Central European Time.
Health
Emergency treatment is free of charge to all Greeks or foreigners, in State owned and University hospitals. Athens also has private hospitals affiliated with national and international institutions.
Visa information
Greece follows the Schengen Agreement for short-term visa issues. Citizens of all countries applying the Schengen acquis in full, plus associated countries enter with any valid I.D. card and are not subjected to border controls. Holders of regular passports from the rest of the world need a visa in order to enter Greece (and the Schengen Area).
You may visit the following internet access for a full list of Greek embassies abroad:
http://www.mfa.gr/www.mfa.gr/en-US/Services/Directory/Greek+Missions+Abroad
Getting to Athens
Athens is easily accessible from all European countries and most destinations around the world. The new Athens International Airport, Eleftherios Venizelos, inaugurated in March 2001, is dedicated to customer satisfaction and provides high security standards and top quality services to all users. It is connected daily with over 50 cities around the world.
The airport is located 33 km southeast of Athens and is easily accessible via Attiki Odos, a six-lane motorway. Public transportation to Athens or to the Port of Piraeus is provided by express airport bus connections on a 24-hour basis, while a direct Metro line connects the airport with the city center, see below.
Regular motor coach schedules link Athens with the south-eastern European states and the Balkans, while daily ferry services link the port of Patras (2 hours drive from Athens) with Italy.
Local Transportation
Athens features a broad and efficient transportation network consisting of metro, buses, trolley buses, and an electric tram covering the biggest part of the city, as well as taxis and limousines.
ATMs
ATMs are widely available in Greece for Master or Visa cardholders.
Banks
Banks are open from Monday to Thursday, 8:00-14:00 hrs and on Friday, 8:00-13:00 hrs; on Saturdays and Sundays they are closed. Central branches of some banks may be found open until 20:00 daily and from 10:00 to 16:30 on Saturdays. For further details please consult your hotel concierge.
Electricity
Electricity is 220 V/50 Hz. Plugs are the standard continental (DIN) type with two round pins.
Telecommunications
The international access code for Greece is +30. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 001 for the USA or Canada, 0044 for the United Kingdom). Public payphones are available all over Greece and use phone cards, which can be purchased from kiosks. Telephone transmissions are based on GSM technology. For information concerning mobile phone use in Greece, please ask your provider.
Tipping
Tipping is not compulsory but is quite usual in Greece.
More info at
The city of Athens official visitors' website http://www.breathtakingathens.com and the Greek National Tourism Organisation http://www.visitgreece.gr
Information regarding the Congress Venue
Location & accessibility
The venue is situated right in the heart of Athens and is easily accessible by metro, bus and trolley bus. Commuting to and from the city center and the Athens International Airport or other locations is quite easy:
30 min. from the Athens International Airport
3-5 min. from the city centre.
How to reach the Congress Venue from the Athens International Airport
Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos" is located in Spata, 33 km southeast of Athens and serves all international and domestic flights. The airport is easily accessible from the Congress Venue and the city centre via motorway, express bus or metro. An average journey by taxi from the airport to the city centre should take approximately 40-50 minutes, depending on traffic, costing around € 35-40
By Metro: There is direct access from the airport and the city centre to the venue from the metro station "Megaron Moussikis" on metro line 3 (blue line). Please visit the Athens Metro website for detailed information at www.ametro.gr
By Bus: The following buses, express buses and trolley buses pass and stop near The International Conference Center of the Athens Concert Hall
Buses: 450, 550, 601, 603
Express Buses: X95 (direct airport line), A5, E6, E7, X14
Cable "Trolley" Buses: 3, 7, 8, 13
A ticket for the airport express line costs €3.20. It allows unlimited travel by all public transport means (incl. bus and metro) for 24 hours from the time of validation.
For more information about the public transportation network in Athens please visit: www.oasa.gr
Venue Accessibility for the physically disabled: The Venue has received the European Union's 'Helios' award in the public buildings category for accessibility to those with special needs. The entrance to the Venue and all the indoor areas inside are easily accessible, without forcing people with special needs to use a different route than other visitors. There are also restrooms for the physically disabled in all levels of the building.
Official language
The official language of the Congress in English.
Exhibition
Running alongside the Congress will be a commercial exhibition featuring exhibitors from the international dental and oral health sector.
Name Badges & Congress Material
Name badges and congress material will be provided on-site to registered delegates at the Congress Registration Desk.
All delegates are kindly requested to wear their name badge during all Congress functions.
Liability and Insurance
Delegates are advised to arrange health and accident insurance before travelling to the Congress. The Professional Congress Organiser cannot accept liability for personal injury or loss/damage to property and belongings of delegates during the Congress or their stay in Athens.
Who should attend
Paediatric Dentists, dentists, students & postgraduate students of paediatric dentistry and anyone that has interest in the child well-being such as: paediatricians, general practitioners, gynecologists, psychologists, orthopedics surgeons, obesity specialists
8 reasons to attend
- Dynamic scientific program focused on the interrelationship of oral and total health care
- Superb lectures and symposia with top invited speakers
- The Megaron Athens International Conference Center permits a good balance of Oral and Poster sessions, in 4 parallel session halls and an extensive exhibition
- Athens has an easy access from most European and International destinations and comfortable infrastructure and services developed for the 2004 Olympic Games
- Over 1500 hotel rooms within walking distance of the conference venue and more than 10.000 rooms in various hotel categories in the city of Athens
- Well educated population and widespread competence of the English language
- Perfect Mediterranean climate
- Stunning blend of history, mythology and modern life excitements
The 2011 Highlights
The IAPD Congress returns to Athens 22 years later
In 1989 the city of Athens hosted the 11th IAPD Congress.
50th Anniversary of the Hellenic Society of Paediatric Dentistry
Established in 1961, the HSPD was amongst the founding member societies of IAPD and in 2011 will celebrate 50 years of serving and promoting children’s oral health. www.hspd.gr
100th Anniversary of the Athens Dental School
In 2011 the Dental School of the University of Athens will celebrate its 100 years of existence, organizing an Anniversary Congress immediately after the 23rd IAPD Congress.
http://www.100yearsdentalschooluoa.gr/
Special Olympics 2011
In 2004 Greece hosted the Olympic and Paraolympic Games. In 2011 the World Special Olympics Summer Games will be held in Athens, Greece, June 25th - July 4th. www.athens2011.org
