Volleyball from Smyrna in Asia Minor to Athens with Panionios up to 1930

Abstract

The Panionios Gymnastics Club of Smyrna was founded in 1890 in Smyrna and became one of the most significant athletic and cultural organizations of the Greek community in the region. In addition to football, which was particularly popular, the club also promoted other sports, including volleyball, becoming one of the first organized hubs for the sport in the Ottoman Empire. Through Panionios, volleyball was developed and gained recognition in Smyrna, attracting athletes and supporters alike. Following the Asia Minor Catastrophe in 1922 and the mass exodus of the Greek population, Panionios relocated to Athens in 1923. Along with the club, its established sports activities were also transferred, making a decisive contribution to the development of sports in Greece. The club quickly became a leading figure in Greek sports, preserving Smyrna's athletic tradition and inspiring a new generation of athletes. The transfer of volleyball to Greece by Panionios was pivotal, as it inspired the establishment of new clubs, the organization of official championships (for both men and women), and the expansion of the sport across the country.