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Malaysia: Greeks seek Athens spot in the courts  x6
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| Malaysia |
February 21, 2004
The Star, Malaysia
> Page Views 1930
The battle for a place in the Athens Olympics is not over for the Greek hockey team. The Greeks, who lost a playoff series to Canada, have gone to the courts to try and win a place.
The Hellenic (Greece) Hockey Federation has submitted a dispute to the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) just before the playoff started on Wednesday, concerning the qualification of the Greek men's team to the Olympic Games.
Greece, the host nation of the Athens Olympic Games, had been required to meet the qualification criteria set out by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The first option for Greece to gain a place at the Olympics was by qualifying for the European Nations Cup, held in October 2003. They did not qualify. The second opportunity was the best-of-three playoffs against Canada, the 12th team in the Olympic qualifiers. Greece lost the first two meetings 7-1 and 3-1.
If Greece had won, they would have become automatic qualifier for Athens and six places would be up for grabs at the qualifiers in Madrid. As Canada won, they will battle it out in the qualifiers, with seven places now available.
Greece participated under protest in the play-off.
Peter Cohen, FIH Honorary secretary-general stated: ?The FIH respects the Hellenic Hockey Federation?s right, under the FIH Statutes, to contest this issue at CAS and will look to this jurisdictional body to provide a ruling that will be accepted by both parties.?
Meanwhile, the teams in Madrid will go ahead with the tournament under a cloud of uncertainty.
The seventh placed team in Madrid will have to wait for the final outcome of the court of arbitration to know their fate. And that is not likely to happen very soon.
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Comments on this article
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Facts
02-24-2004 3:30 am
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decision
I think you will find if you do your homework, that Greece and the FIH are in arbitration talks this week.
There will be a decision made prior to the qualifying tournament so no teams will be under any dilusions about how many places they are playing for.
Hopefully, common sence is not dead, and a fair decision will be made.
Hopefully, the Olympic spirit will not be lost.
Hopefully, the right to play in one's own games will remain.
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Rhino
02-25-2004 3:58 pm
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Ridiculous
I read today an article in the greek newspaper Kathimerini. It reads that the greek women team did not go to new zealand because the money was not provided by the minister of sports. Well but why they did not play either in the Athens Test events on begining of february. So what is the matter ? And in the same newspaper we read that the greek federation will use 15 000 Euros they have for making an appeal for qualification of the men team. And the greek young players are still crying for a stadium and a championship. The greek federation is ridiculous and should concentrate on the development of the game in Greece. Until the olympics, it should be better to use the players of the national team for training the children. The olympics games are a good opportunity for the greek players to enjoy the spectacle. It is better than to shout insults to the teams who will destroy the greek team. But this appeal seems normal if you knew the greek environment of hockey.
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ZEUS
02-26-2004 1:16 am
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To Rhino
You seem be able to reason with nothing but you very personal narrow interest (Rhinos are known for their non-flexible running style) which obviously revolves around you children. If you are that unhappy with the way things are in Greek hockey then I suggest that you introduce your children to another sport. I think that the way you argue is embarrashing and way out of line. If you want more things to happen to Greek hockey then you should consider that some of these will come more easily if the Greek hockey has a presense in the OG. If you are not happy with what happens at the HHF then get yourself involved and help to make things better. The money required for taking the case to CAS are provided by the Greek NOC in support to the unjust treatment of Greek hockey by the FIH. Indeed money was not enough for the preparation of both teams in a proper way plus the fact that the women's team never showed that they could reach a level that would have motivated everyone to keep them on. Even with just the men's team funding comes very sparingly and seen that you read the newspapers you may recall that due to financial constrains at the Greek Secretariat for Sports the local federations were asked to approach banks for loans that would have been backed by state repayment guarantee. A very tricky process in the Greek things. So the money factor is #1 in everything evenmore so in subsidised sports. The exposure of the financial aspect in the newspapers is a way of pressure for the funding irregularities which affect downstream activities from top to grass roots. Rather be a possitive thinker and supportive to all activities and avoid negative criticism.
I hope that you have at least volunteered for the games.
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Rhino
02-26-2004 10:53 am
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To Zeus
I am very hurt by the fact that as usual when you are not pleased by something, you have to leave. With this behaviour, If you are not pleased by the next result of the coming elections in Greece you have also to leave. If your are not pleased by your work conditions, don't fight for better condition, leave also. Yes I think that the future of hockey relies on the children as for all other sports (except perhaps Chess, Bridges, golf, shooting if everything is considered as a sport), and if they don't have the chance to practice at their level, whatever it is, I share the sorrow of my children, because I prefer to see them practicing a sport rather than boring before a television. If the children can play I don't bother at all for the result of the appeal, this is true. And sorry, I read always a newspaper for information, I could not know that it was a pressure for getting more money. For my involvement in HHF and the question if I am volunteer of not for the OG, I will not answer to you. Just I mention that I am volunteer for the Paralympics, because I think this competition is a fantastic example for all of us and especially for the children. As I Told you, I am hurt and so I will not intervene anymore on this site. Regards and good luck for the appeal
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DareDevil
02-26-2004 12:27 pm
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Poor Rhino..
Your past comments clearly showed that u actually are not at all interested at the long term development of Greek hockey. Common sense should show u that only participation in the OG can boost hockey in Greece! This is the only way to get this sport growing and raising the level of hockey at club hockey. So be patient until autmun and then enjoy. And please don't whin just because someone has reasonable arguments...
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Cintas
02-26-2004 12:57 pm
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Zeus and DareDevil
Why is it that when anyone disagrees with your position you attack them personally? Whether or not the Greek team plays in the Olympics is a matter which can be discussed and debated. If you are such passionate supporters of Greek hockey you should realize that you are doing your cause a disservice. When, you belittle, insult and dismiss opposing viewpoints, you tend to polarize issues rather than build consensus.
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