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Greece: Press Release from the Hellenic Hockey Federation  x83
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May 5, 2004 
Hellenic Hockey Federation
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Greece: Press Release from the Hellenic Hockey Federation
The Hellenic Hockey Federation hereby addresses the sporting world in denouncing the unfavourable treatment it has received from the International Hockey Federation. Such a treatment is opposite to the principles binding the sporting spirit and fair play and the Hellenic Hockey Federation thereby seeks the support of the sporting world in redressing the grievance suffered thereby.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is the only International Federation that for the first time in the history of Olympic Games has imposed qualification criteria on the team of the organizing country and has in particular done so without the consent of the Greek Olympic Committee.
The Hellenic Hockey Federation has paid due respect to the decisions of the International Federation, according to which it was bound to play with the twelfth team that qualified on the basis of the worldwide ranking system, i.e. with Cuba and therefore prepared the Greek national hockey team upgrading its contesting capacity at a high level and arrived in Madrid in order to play the game.
Following thereafter the refusal of Cuba to participate in this game with the Greek team, the International Hockey Federation has, instead of applying the general principle of automatic qualification, imposed to our country the obligation to play with another team, namely the team of Canada that is far more powerful than Cuba and is classified much higher in the world classification.
The Hellenic Hockey Federation having considered the decision of the International Federation to be unfair and harmful for the Greek team has resorted to the CAS that is the responsible athletic court of the International Olympic Committee so as to redress the grievance suffered thereby.
The International Hockey Federation although having initially declared its approval of the right of Greece to resort in the jurisdictional body of the IOC and having asked for the matter to be judged upon its merits, has subsequently posed via its attorney various procedural objections thereby reversing its initial statements and attempting to close the matter in a brief procedure at the expense of the interests of the Greek team.
This discriminatory behaviour of the International Federation against Greece aims at exerting all means possible at depriving the Greek national hockey team of the right to participate in the Olympic Games of Athens, such behaviour thereby violating the fixed customary principle of the automatic qualification of teams of the organizing country and in the same time depriving Greek sports fans of the possibility and the joy to admire their national team in the Olympic Games, and therefore leads to an attitude not consistent with the principles of fair play of the Olympic ideal.
From the Press Office of H.H.F.
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Comments on this article
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Hpy
05-06-2004 10:41 pm
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What a lot of rubbish…
What a lot of rubbish…
To win a spot in the Olympics, the Greeks are obviously spending more time in the boardrooms than on the pitch practicing their hockey skills…
Who are they trying to impress by shamefully travestying the truth? They were told that they had to play the 12th team qualified for the Olympic Qualifier, NOT explicitly Cuba. And I am sure that the Canadians are impressed to learn that they are “far more powerful than Cuba”, when they are only 3 spots ahead of them in the FIH World Rankings (and just beat them 1-0 in the recent Pan American Games).
By appealing to the CAS at the 11th hour, the Greeks are already screwing up the preparation of the South African Team, who will only know on May 19 (i.e. two months after qualifying in Madrid) if they’ll go to Athens.
The least the Greeks could now do, if they had one ounce of pride, would be to wait for the outcome of the CAS hearing instead of launching a PR campaign “to the sporting world to denounce the unfavorable treatment” it is receiving from the FIH.
All in the name of the Olympic Spirit, of course.
Rubbish!
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Hockey Supporter
05-07-2004 1:06 am
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National Pride
Those who are aware of the Greeks passion about playing in Athens will remember that they resorted to "seeking players" via a plea on the internet !! If you were to examine the make up of their team you may well find a few Dutch and Australian players who in themselves are desperate to participate in the Olympics via a back door. Is this a true Greek team in the spirit of the games which they are trying to portray.
Should they have really wanted to participate they would have established that some 4 years ago and then put a program in place to do so. Also if they felt that they had a case, why play against the final quailfier for Madrid but simply take a stand. Remember that Canada are in fact ranked ahead of Poland who also competed in Madrid.
Not sure of the real solution but cannot help but feel that although Greece feel hard done by they have also tried themselves to bend the rules to their advantage with pleading for overseas players to play for them.
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Podge
05-07-2004 1:09 am
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What a joke
Agreed hpy. What a bunch of sore losers: I suppose the FIH will be blamed for the three bomb blasts, the lack of a roof over the pool;being 6 months behind schedule and what is going to be a shambolic Olympics anyway. Poor preparation and crisis management seems to be a common greek trait!!
Here are the facts as the stand:
Greece have been aware that they are hosts of the Olympics for the last 7 years. The FIH have fallen over themselves to try and get hockey in Greece going as much as is humanly possible. I understand that besides financial support, they have been invited to tournaments and been provided with opportunities to develope their hockey.
Instead, all they have done is dished out passports to 5 or 6 Aussie players of greek decent to make up the numbers in their national team- hardly a credible development process.
Secondly nowhere in the Olympic charter does it say that the host nation automatically qualifies.
Three, if they had played cuba and lost, they would definitely have adopted the same attitude, as their arguement is that they shouldnt need to qualify, based on the fact that they are hosts- regardless of the fact that this is not a foregone conclusion
Fourthly, if they have been so serious about their olympics and the spot they yearn to take up in the games, why then did they withdraw at the eleventh hour from the women's qualifyer in New Zealand in March? That to me, amounts to disrespect for the FIH, its processes, the hosts and the other countries that participated in that tournament. The CAS is hardly going to take their claim seriously when they withdrew their women from the qualifying tournament are they?
Fifth, if the outcome is in favour of the Greeks, what about the SOuth Africans. Surely they could counter appeal against the FIH for the same reasons that Greece have, and therefore based on that ruling, also be eligible to qualify? The only solution then would be to expand the tournament and include the next best qualifyer which would include Belgium??
The Greeks are basing a case on very little credible evidence. They are also adopting the lowest form of defence, and mounting a pathetic media campaign ahead of the decision, outside of the very environment they have appealed to. IN legal terms, this is highly unethical and prejudices their case even more. The FIH are correct, its now a legal issue for the court to decide, so that is where the fight should be held, not outside in the media.
Rather build the roof and the roads, and sort out your city!!
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YEN
05-07-2004 5:15 am
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let greeks play
they must play. i support greeks
all the way
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N
05-07-2004 6:20 am
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HPY
Completely agree with you if the Greeks had been prepared to such a high standard they should have played and beaten the Canadians.
It is obvious that the Greek team would be the whipping boys of the tournament dragging the standard down and lowering the prestige of an event for Olympians. The team spent only months preparing where others spend a lifetime. And you now want our support - not a chance. I would rather the teams that work hard and deserve the spot play not you guys.
Good riddance
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The raja
05-07-2004 7:41 am
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Look there are only four or five nations with a chance of winning the gold medal, in the recent seriers with Australia, India and Malaysia the Australians whipped the lot of them...go the greeks...gee bad luck south africa
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raja
05-07-2004 7:43 am
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sorry i forgot that the aussies whipped south africa as well
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Mr Realist
05-07-2004 7:48 am
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The Olympics would be reduced to farce by having such mis matches and hockey in particular would be tarnished in what is the pinnacle of our sport.
Quite rightly the IOC are trying to avoid the "Eddie the Eagle" syndrome witnessed a few years ago where more publicity and accolade is poured upon someone making up the numbers rather than those who are competing to become the elite in their chosen sport.
If people want the Olympics to be a games where everyone competes and everyone wins a medal then fair enough but the FIH nor the IOC quite rightly wish to degrade the greatest sporting show in such a fashion.
Greece were out of their depth at the Euro Qualifiers in 2002, and despite recruiting some foreigners they are still not capable of even competing against Canada ranked 18th or so in the World.
This was a good compromise by the FIH / IOC if they were remotely competitive they would have beaten Canada.
All other individual athletes must achieve a minimum standard to qualify for the even why should a team sport be any different.
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MELLON
05-07-2004 7:48 am
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GREEKS
LOST! OLYMPIC SPIRIT. IF FOUND PLEASE RETURN TO ATHENS
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MELLON
05-07-2004 8:00 am
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Olympic Spirit
LOST OLYMPIC SPIRIT. IF FOUND PLEASE RETURN TO ATHENS.
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Podge
05-07-2004 8:37 am
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The Raja- interesting concept...not
Raja, bad luck india more like it, with four or five nations in the running as you say, and with South Africa ending ahead of India two weeks ago, maybe Greece should replace India?? Maybe you should post on the 'Save Danraj and Baljit Dhillon campaign' page...Leaving those two out is as bad as letting Greece aka 'The Blind School' into the Olympics...Hey, theres a good idea, why dont we let Greece play in a one team tournament in the Paraolympic games..then again, that would be totally disrespectful to the Para-olympians, who have all had to acheive their own qualifying criteria, regardless of their personal disabilities...sobering thought hey?
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N
05-07-2004 8:46 am
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Olympic Spirit
I am sorry am I missing something here.
Are the Olympics just about participation or about working towards something for years having a goal and reaching it through hard work and effort. The Greeks have not prepared for this challenge are a very poor side and letting them play will detract from our sport and the olympics in general.
If olympic spirit and hard work are to be encouraged SA should be there and the Greeks should be thrown out for draging sport and hockey through the mud.
How long have the HHF known they were hosting the event when did the Greeks start their search for players think about this when they make their plea!!!!
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Danny
05-07-2004 11:12 am
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They deserve to play
How can hockey be promoted ,if countries like Greece are not not given a chance ,plus they are the hosts for Olympics. Why have rules been changed for this Olympics?.They are the pioneers of the Olympic games and deserve beter treatment.
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dUdeFi2h
05-07-2004 12:05 pm
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The South African team worked hard to qualify for the Olympics and I don't see how they can be left out to let the Greeks play. Fair is fair - South Africa did all the hard work - LET THEM PLAY!!
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Olympic Spirit
05-07-2004 12:28 pm
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The Olympic spirit was lost decades ago, the only spirit is found in the various potions that propel athletes ever faster and higher. The greeks have as much right to play in athens as the dolphin has to compete in the roofless pool. Every attempt was ade to accomadate the Greeks desire to play in Atthens trough developing their team and all they have done in return is to import Aussies an try to qualify through the court system. Almost as bad as the Irish debacle at the Europeans.
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Last Stand
05-07-2004 12:37 pm
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Suddenly South Africans can call Greeks cheats and support FIH who coc**d up in the first instance, Greeks should be in Athens.
Without Greeks, it will be like having party without the host and if the Greeks lose the case at CAS, they should lock up the stadium and go away on Holidays, with hell to hockey and FIH, the biggest lot of ASSH****.
Go Greeks and get your right and do not let FIH bully you, they cannot do much, they changed the principles, they should pay for it. For those who think I am Greek, forget it, I am English and do not see why small Countries should be bullied.
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fh fan
05-07-2004 1:53 pm
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Restore the field to 12 teams as it was supposed to be. Let the greeks in - it's the only honorable thing to do and let the team who finished 6th in the NZ qualifier play. The Greeks can live outside the facility and I'm sure there's room for 16 more athletes there.
good luck
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Podge
05-07-2004 9:03 pm
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Last stand
Last stand- mmmmh- thats an interesting statment from a country that refused to play world cup cricket matches in Zimbabwe....if thats not bullying then what is? Dont even go there mate....theres tons more examples, like England probably wouldnt have been able to qualify if it hadnt teamed up with 3 other countries to form GB...whats the statment again?? Whinging pommies??
Secondly, the Olympics is not a stage for the development of sport- thats up to the FIH through its continental and other tournaments. How would you like to see the 100m final with a 15second runner running in it just because he was geek and from a small country?
Thirdly, there are no free rides or wild cards to get into the Olympics. All athletes have qualifying criteria, including Paraolympic atheletes. Greece dont have a birth right to play olympic hockey.
Four, I dont recall any South Africans calling the Geeks cheats?
Five, its probably going to be difficult to lock the stadium up, as you can probably just climb in through the roof!!!
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adam craggsy
05-08-2004 4:30 am
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well they have a point
the host nation is always alowed to play even i they lose all of their games so wot they shud be able to play . it there olypics and they shud be there
and the fact that they plyd cuba and cuba didn't turn up shud have meant they qualified
as for the players not being grekk this is the only problem as they have scrounged players from all over the world it isn't a fair representation on the country
but we all need hockey to grow and allowwing a greek team would surley help the sport in greece
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Asghar Khan
05-08-2004 5:04 am
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changing goal posts !
I think Greeks should have been allowed to participate as host ,as it is spirit of taking part and not only how good the team may be in world ranking.For example , USA men,s hockey side weren't particularly strong in 1984 ,but ,as hosts were allowed to play and they did come last. However , the USA players must have been happy to experience in presenting their country.
Surely , the Greeks should be given the same opportunity be it they are not as powerful as a country as the USA .
In defence of the IHF , Greece should have objected and not played any qualification games ,as it does appear an act of " sour grapes "
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kopela
05-08-2004 12:21 pm
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Podge.....
and the rest of you that agree to his theories - You really need to get ur "facts" straight.
The mens team have been doing alot of preparation, and they still are!!! Regardless of the negativity, that you (and the rest that dont agree to their participation in the OG are giving) they still training damn hard. They, like the rest of the "worthy" teams have sacrificed alot of their time and left behind families and jobs - to give everything of their best for Greece! Yes, they might all b from different countries - but Greek they are and definately playing for Greece and Greece only. What a honour to represent, in blue and white.
And by the way just because they got an oppertunity of a lifetime, dont b all sour about it - rather support them. Trust me, they arent going to go onto the field during the games and get their asses kicked. They too have pride and want to prove ALOT of people like YOU wrong!!!!
So please, if u dont have anything good to say, just dont say it at all! At least they are really trying to make a difference in Greek hockey.
Good luck boys..... behind you all the way! z--
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the raja
05-08-2004 10:36 pm
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Podge, i think your weight is affecting your brain mate!!
its simple you host the olympics, and build great facilities you play in the olympics
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nunan
05-09-2004 3:11 am
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Legacy..
What I am curious as to is what happens post athens if the greeks are allowed to participate. what happens to the game in greece, will the HHF continue to fly in their 'freelance' players for the next years?, seems quite remote considering they pulled their women out of Auckland for 'finacial reasons', which in itself is a pretty good illustration as to the future on the woman's game in greece.
Perhaps greece should have looked more to examples such as the current chinese women, or the korean teams of 88'.
I think they have been given ample opportunity to succeed and feel it is unfortunate the South African team has had to endure all this time of uncertainty because of the actions of the greeks.
Hopefull C.A.S. will see what is truly best for the best platform our game has for worlwide promotion..
good luck South Africa!
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Alex from Greece
05-09-2004 9:22 am
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crazy...
You are alla bunch of a crazy,fanatic people that seem to care about hockey but all you care really about is that the FIH could go wrong on our team and could disgrace you...
Our women couldn't go to Aucland 'coz our federation tries to spend money on men's team,tries to prove you all wrong,tries the best for hockey in Greece!
I can't tell you that we have a great team because we don't but we are all Greeks(we were borned with that gene's in our blood) and that can't be changed.Whether some members of our team were raised in France or Germany doesn't mean they don't have the right to fight with us!
I feel proud for our team because beeing in practices with them teache's me determination and strengh,gives me hopes for tommorow.
I feel that i should thank Last Stand and the Raja(many more too...) for trying to stand for us and thinking about future hockey!
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Podge
05-09-2004 11:46 am
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Raja..
Dont let that hot curry fry all your brain cells Raja....The last thing the Geeks should be worrying about is their 'Greek-stralian' hockey team.
All they have been interested in since they decided to bid for the games is the principle of hosting the games, and the principle of playing as hosts in the hockey tournament and not the quality of the event.It is blatantly obvious that they are incapable of meeting qualfying criteria on the field and off the field they arent meeting building and structural deadlines while cutting back on the quality of the buildings 'they promised' to construct in their original hosting bid. Athens is going to be a shambles...and the geek hockey team if allowed to play, will just be the shining example of the embarrasment that normal Greek citizens will have to endure for a long time to come.
......2004 Bid rivals Cape Town would probably have done a better job then the 'inventors of the games'.
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Podge
05-09-2004 9:49 pm
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Greek Hockey Sells out there own Women's Team
Alex, I appreciate your patriotic feelings, but not only are they patriotic, they are also sexist. What you are saying, is that Greek Hockey is willing to sell out their own womens team, who had a more realistic chance of qualifying, for the sake of backing their men who have dragged the name of World Hockey and Greek Hockey through the mud, for the sake of a team that is composed of a few foreigners desperate to play in an olympics cos they couldnt make their own national teams.
This is why Greece shouldnt play:
1. They have met no qualifying criteria
2. They have not developed the game
3. They have handed out passports to a bunch of foreign players while screaming development
4. They are not serious about development of hockey in their country, reflected in the fact that they sold their womens hockey team out in the name of mens hockey
5. They have woken up too late
6. They are running a dirty media campaign to get people on their sides
7. They have a sexist national hockey policy
8. THEY ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO GRACE THE OLYMPIC STAGE!!!!!
So all you greek fans, dry your eyes, start some real hockey development, get off your lazy backsides and help finish the roof!
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the raja
05-10-2004 3:44 am
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Podge....
look its simple
1.the host nations gets qualification in any sport that they want-this has been the precident for over100 years
2.the usa gave out passports to anyone who could hold a stick, the greeks from aboard are from greek decent
3.this is the best way for the devlopment of the game to go forward in greece
4.the media campaign is not dirty at all, they are just sticking up there side of the argument
5. If the fih or any other international sporting body did this to the USA or Australia, there would be a huge outcry, hence they were able to play in field hockey in the USA and Australia was able to participate in european handball, i am from Australia and we NEVER play handball but we still played and got flogged
podge.....use your mouth only for eating not talking
hey podge....go eat something i know you want to
go greece
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the raja
05-10-2004 3:52 am
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Hey Alex from greece,
hope training on the olympic pitch is going well
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Andrew from Australia
05-10-2004 4:15 am
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podge you idiot!
It is so easy to jump on the band wagon and critisise the greeks for not being on schedule with their building programs, but at least wait and see if the games are even affected by it as I am sure it will be finished on time. I am sure all the athletes will come. I am sure the games will be a success. I am assuming you are getting all your information from the media, as you are not in Athens. The media love a disaster more than a success. Unless you personally have information on the hockey team or the building programs, shut up, and stop commenting on theing you have no idea about.
This is why Greece should play:
1. They have trained 4-6 hours a day for 18 months.
2. They have built great facilities and 3 turfs out of thier tax payers money.
3. They are getting better everyday and going from stregth to strength.
4. Their results are getting better against quality opposition.
5. They are the Hoat nation at the Olympic Games.
6. The team that replaces them will not do any better in the games, or affect the results of the medals.
7. They invented hockey in 500bc.
8. They invented the Olympic Games.
9. It will grow a passion for the sport in their home country and bring young players to the game and develop hockey in their country and build a solid foundation to Greek Hockey.
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Frankie
05-10-2004 8:04 am
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Kick out SA
South Africa should be removed form the Olympics because, unlike the Greeks, they:
1) Have not work hard over the last 4 year.
2) Do not feel proud to play in their colours under their national flag.
3) Are all born and bred in their own country.
4) Qualified.
Those people supporting the Greek inclusion maintain that the important issues are taking part and the development of hockey.
Therefore the only option available to the FIH is to remove all the qualified teams and replace them with Greece, Gabon, Sudan, Haiti, Samoa, Greenland, Iraq, Gibralta, Monaco, San Marino, Mexico and Mongolia.
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NZ
05-10-2004 9:05 am
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if every country had the chance to host the olympic games then fair enough the host has a team in the games. But this isn't the case as small countries like NZ will never host an Olympics and therefore will always have to qualify, and may miss out, like in sydney. So every country should have to qualify in someway with no free rides.
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Cintas
05-10-2004 10:28 am
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Raja
Actually, I believe the US men had 4 players from overseas on their Olympic roster. The majority of players had been part of the program for years and recruited after the 84 Olympics. While I understand the desire to make a point in favor of Greek participation you need to be a bit more careful about your rhetoric. Also keep in mind the US men leading up to 96 had been playing a great many internationals and were ranked in the top 15 before the Olympics. This is not quite the same as the Greek situation. I know the US did poorly in the Olympics, but part of that had to do with some very serious coaching problems which came to a head during the games. Dismissing the effort of the US athletes who participated in the 96 games is extremely insulting. It is an easy thing to do, but it does nothing to help your argument.
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n
05-10-2004 10:52 am
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greece
They have been training for 18 months!!!!
Big deal some have been preparing for this for a lifetime.
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Confused
05-10-2004 6:27 pm
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Hockey development in Greece
Hello - have I missed something here? I thought the Games for Athens were awarded 7 years ago, not 18 months ago. Where has the hockey development been in Greece over the last 7 years? How dumb was the Greek Federation to appoint only ONE coach to coach both the men's and women's team. How is this possible? How serious were they in trying to develop and prepare a team? What does this say of their understanding of what is required to prepare a team for international competition? If development is so good now, where is the women's team, and where are the men's and women's Greek Under 21 teams? Has Greece ever played in any international Under 21 match? Can someone help me on this please? I would have thought we should have seen a Greek U21 team for both men and women playing in Europe at least for the last 4/5 years to prepare potential players for the Olympics in 2004. Are they playing in this year's Junior European Nations Cup?
Unfortunately, I do not think I have not missed anything - there has been no attempt at development, but simply a 'rent-a-team' from 2nd, 3rd, 4th division club players from Europe and Oceania who happen to be able to get a Greek passport - players who are submitting postings on this site to try and justify their fraudulent attempt to play at an Olympics. How can such players expect (or deserve) the privilege of being called an Olympian.
It will be a sad day for hockey and the Olympics if this bogus Greek team play in Athens. Let the teams that are truly representative of their countries and the players who have legitimately qualified by training their guts out and making huge sacrifices over very many years to achieve the Olympic dream take the centre stage at the hockey stadium in Athens.
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Podge
05-10-2004 9:45 pm
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ANdrew from australia
Andrew from australia (or now greece?). To answer your points:
1.They have trained 4 to 6 hours a day for 18 months-
THEY KNEW THEY WOULD BE HOSTS 7 YEARS AGO- THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN TRAINING AT JUNIOR LEVEL, COMPETTING IN FIH TOURNAMENTS FOR THE LAST 7 YEARS!!
2. They have built great facilities and 3 turfs out of thier tax payers money.
NIGERIA BUILT 2 BRAND NEW TURFS FOR THE ALL AFRICAN GAMES LAST YEAR- SO ACCORDING TO YOUR THINKING, SURELY THEY SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO PLAY IN THE OLYMPICS?
3. They are getting better everyday and going from stregth to strength.
SO ARE MALTA!! DOES THAT QUALIFY THEM?
4. Their results are getting better against quality opposition.
HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS ONE. HAVE THEY PLAYED ANY INTERNATIONALS SINCE CANADA, WHOM THEY LOST TO IN SPAIN? ON WHAT DO YOU BASE THIS STATEMENT? DID THEY PLAY A FRIENDLY AGAINST THERE WOMEN'S TEAM FOR YOU TO DREAM UP THIS POINT?
5.They are the Hoat nation at the Olympic Games.
HOST NATIONS DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY FOR THE OLYMPICS!
6. The team that replaces them will not do any better in the games, or affect the results of the medals.
THATS AN INTERESTING STATEMENT BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE NATION THAT REPLACES THEM HAS ACTUALLY QUALIFIED FOR THE TOURNAMENT. IN FACT ANY NATION THAT REPLACES GREECE WOULD DO A BETTER JOB.
7.They invented hockey in 500bc.
WELL DONE GUYS. PITY YOU HAVENT IMPROVED MUCH SINCE THEN
8. They invented the Olympic Games.
AND THEREFORE SHOULD RESPECT IT FOR WHAT IT IS, THE GREATEST PLATFORM AN ATHLETE CAN PERFORM ON IN THE WORLD- IT SHOULD BE RESPECTED AS SUCH AN NOT RIDICULED BY ALLOWING NON-QUALIFYING TEAMS TO COMPETE- IT WILL OTHERWISE BE A FARCE
9. It will grow a passion for the sport in their home country and bring young players to the game and develop hockey in their country and build a solid foundation to Greek Hockey.
EXPLAIN TO ME HOW PULLING YOUR WOMENS TEAM OUT OF A LEGITIMATE QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT, IMPORTING PLAYERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, NOT HAVING AN ACTIVE UNDER 21 PROGRAM OR ANY OTHER OBVIOUS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES WHILE FORCING YOUR WAY INTO A COMPETITION WILL HELP DEVELOPE AND GROW HOCKEY IN GREECE? DO YOU REALLY THINK GREEK KIDS ARE GOING TO WANT TO TAKE UP A SPORT WHERE THEIR NATIONAL TEAM GETS THUMPED 20-0 EVERY GAME....THATS AN INSULT TO GREEK PEOPLE.
Andrew, its less than 100 days to go and the country is way behind schedule. Their security ss so lax that normal people can wonder in and out of the stadia while being constructed (THE CHECYNIAN PRESIDENT WAS KILLED SUNDAY BY A BOMB PLACED MONTHS AGO IN THEIR STADIUM), and the AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TEAM want to send federal agents with atheletes and prevent their athletes from leaving the village while flying them straight hom after competition.....THATS FROM AUSTRALIA- The country that has hosted the best olympics ever.....I am sure you will throw your greek passport away as soon as the team is thumped....hey??
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Andrew
05-10-2004 10:13 pm
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obviously.....
....the players of the greek team have been training longer than 18 months, they are all experienced played playing for their club teams but you tell me an intenational team which have been training everyday for 4-6 hours for 18 months.
Hope training is going well Alex.
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Andrew
05-10-2004 10:57 pm
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Podge
2. They have built great facilities and 3 turfs out of thier tax payers money.
NIGERIA BUILT 2 BRAND NEW TURFS FOR THE ALL AFRICAN GAMES LAST YEAR- SO ACCORDING TO YOUR THINKING, SURELY THEY SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO PLAY IN THE OLYMPICS?
No but I bet you they played in the All-African Games.
Podge, what is your level of hockey expetise?
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TK
05-11-2004 1:39 am
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Greek Standard
A good compromise would have been to schedule the Greeks to play the qualifier vs the last place team from Madrid @ Athens, just before the start of the Olympic Tourney. If this standard had been in place would any of the following countries qualified at their Olympics: Japan'64;Mexico'68;Canada'76;Russia'80;USA'84&'96??????
Also, now will the FIH apply the same standard from now on??...........ie Bejieing'08
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Podge
05-11-2004 3:14 am
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Andrew
Firstly, Nigeria at least qualified to play in the continental tournament, but failed to come in the top two which ruled out any possibility of them being able to qualify for an olympics, no matter how much they practise, how many turfs they have built, what sports they invented and the like. Greece couldnt even make the first hurdle of qualification, so by rights Nigeria should qualify ahead of greece, as should any European nation that competed in the European Nations CUp!!!
Secondly, most top 15 hockey country have practised more than 4-6 hours a day for the last 18 months, thats why they are in the top 15????? South Korea, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Pakistan, Australia, Canada, all these teams practise virtually year round.Unlike Greece who seem to have woken up and dished out the necessary documentation to the foreigners to come over to play 18 months ago.
If you claim they are so active as a hockey nation, why dont you explain why there is no obvious Junior Under 21 greek team, why they have not featured in any invitational tournaments or hosted any home tournaments against other teams in the last 7 years? That would have been the logical step to try and develope hockey.
You are getting the cart and the horse confused buddy. You dont start to develope a sport because you went to the olympics, you develope a sport to be able to be good enough to compete in an olympics. Do you think Eric the Eel's farcical swim in 2000 has propelled Equatorial Guniea's population to take up swimming en masse in order to produce genuine olympic quality swimmers?
Any person with some hockey knowledge will tell you that it takes at least 4-6 years to start to train a team to compete at an olympic level, and thats without the guarantee of qualification. What have Greece been doing...surely it doesnt take that long to 'organise' a few passports for the Graussie players?
Answer the question about your women's team. Do you consider withdrawing your womens team from the auckland qualifier (they were better positioned then the men to qualify) a shining example of an intention to develope hockey as a sport, or do women not count? You better hope the judges panel is not female at the CAS, cos that sore point will definitely not go down well with them!!
Do you think that people who swop countries just for the sake of forcing they way into an olympics and to have the honour to be an olympian is an honest and ethical approach? You must be one of these, as an Australian you seem to have a bizarre interest in the qualification of the greek team...maybe a brother or two in the team eh? If Greece do get to the olympics, do you really think these guys are going to stick around to help build your sport- they havent done a great job in the last 18 months.
As for my hockey knowledge and exposure, I can tell you four things:
I am not Australian
I dont play for Greece
Hockey is my passion
My hockey expertise should be reflected in my arguements
What is your expertise Andrew?
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Podge
05-11-2004 4:35 am
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i am a school teacher. i used to sell vegetables. now i am a school teacher teaching u-12 girls hockey. is that a big problem with you, andrew?
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juhi
05-11-2004 7:19 am
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podge
i have a passion for hockey, i will love to know you
give me y e mail
yhanks
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Andrew
05-11-2004 9:20 am
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Podge....
The deal with the girls team was that there was a shortage of funding. Hockey is not the number one sport in Greece as we all know, and this resulted in minimum funding from the government for the sport we are both so passionate about. The Greek hockey federation decided with the coach, that with the men's team had a better chance of qualifying and so it was decided that they would prefer one team get in than both of them fail.
I don't know why you believe the girl team had a better chance than the guys.
And don't assume that everyone from Australia plays for Greece
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Kala Singha
05-11-2004 9:37 am
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Podge and the Rest
I also have a passion for hockey and will probably be going to Athens but in my opinion I don't believe South Africa will win a medal so it makes little difference if Greece replace South Africa. Its only fair if the host nation gets to participate irrespective of their standard. Had it been the world cup it would be a different matter.
Maybe South Africa should be generous and offer their place to Greece - if a remember correctly they did not send thier team to a previous olympics because they didn't believe they would win a medal.
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Statistician
05-11-2004 10:05 am
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TK
TK - don't make wild statements without the true facts. The standard for the Greeks to reach was for them to qualify for the European Nations Cup (a 12 team competition). The facts in relation to the countries you mentioned as host nation in previous Olympics is very interesting and completely destroys your theory. All teams mentioned competed in Olympic qualifying events in their continent and met the criteria that were set for the Greeks but they failed to meet.
1958 - Japan 5th place Asian Games
1975 - Canada 2nd place Pan American Games
1978 - Russia 9th place European Nations
1967 - Mexico 6th place Pan American Games
1983 - USA 4th place Pan American Games
1995 - USA 3rd place Pan American Games
2002 - China 5th place Asian Games
2003 - China 6th place Asian Games
They all played in their respective Continental Olympic Qualifier - all with results that demonstrated they were hockey playing countries.
As far as China is concerned for Beijing, they already meet the criteria that was set for the Greeks.
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Podge
05-11-2004 9:15 pm
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The truth will out
Firstly, some statistical fact from the Statistician provides for concrete evidence for the national greek players that have been posting to this page. Thank you for some sanity.
Secondly, Kala Singha, your arguement is flawed and you need to be corrected regarding your misconceptions about South Africa: If teams were sent to the games on the basis of winning a medal (and we would all have to be psychics to work that one out), then only three teams would be sent to the greatest show on earth. South Africa were prevented from going to Sydney due to political reasons and not becuase of the fact that they werent medal contenders. To prove this, the national baseball team, believe it or not, were sent as replacements.....take it from me, we are not baseball medal contenders even if the other teams played with blindfolds on!
Thirdly, to make the point of all the arguements in these posts, take the recent debacle of Ian Thorpe. In his national swimming olympic trials, he had already swum an olympic qualifying time in the heats prior to the semi-final. However, because he was disqualified, due to the false start rule, and because he did not come first or second he did not qualify as the top 2 swimmer for the event and lost his place in Athens. However since second placed Craig Stevens withdrew, the olympic spot went to the third placed swimmer Josh Krogh who needed to have come first or second in any other race to be included in the squad- which he hadnt, so by default Thorpe was given the spot.
What this case indicates, is that the Greek arguement has no basis. There is no automatic qualification, even if you are a defending champion, world record holder or host of a games. If for arguement's sake australia were to host the olympics in 2004, and thorpe had not come first or second in any other race and therefore not met the minimum qualification criteria, according to Swimming Australia, the AOC and the IOC rules, he would not been an automatic contender in that race!!
Therefore, if South Africa's government decided not to allow the team to go again, Greece would still not be automatic replacements as they have not met any qualification criteria. The team that came 8th at the qualifiers, i.e Belgium, would automatically qualify, as they are the next ranked team.
Finally, as you can see from stasticians input, if Greece are allowed entry, they will be the first hockey team to compete in an olympics without having to meet any qualification criteria, which then sets a ridiculous precedence for future olympics. If the IOC introduces a rotational hosting system like FIFA has, Africa may host an olympics in the not too distant future, and if its a country like Equitorial Guinea, who dont play hockey internationally, do they automatically get to play in the olympics? Can they import players from other countries in the name of competing in the sport? Is this part of the Olympic ethos and spirit? I think not.
Lets await the outcome of the courts decision, and deal with facts and not emotions.
Andrew, I still await your answers on the other questions posed. And I dont agree with your summary of the potential performance of your women's team. They, unlike the men were in a legitimate qualification tournament, so they were in fact in a stronger position to qualify. Have your women's team taken the HHF to court for pulling the rug from beneath them?? Imagine if the Aussie women's team were pulled out for the men, who werent even in the actual qualifier??? If finance is such an issue, how are the HHF paying for the lawyers and the court appearance at the CAS sitting next week? Where did they get the money to attract foreigners to play for greece? Who paid for the stadia? I SMELL A RAT, I SMELL SEXISM.
HYPOCRISY-The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.
From Greek hupokrisis, from hupokrnesthai, to play a part, pretend.
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Scotty
05-11-2004 11:16 pm
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Directly from the following website.....
http://www.olympic.org/uk/organisation/movement/index_uk.asp
"
The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practised without discrimination or any kind, in a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.
The Olympic Movement is defined also by the numerous activities in which it engages, such as:
- Promoting sport and competitions through the intermediary of national and international sports institutions world-wide.
- Cooperation with public and private organisations to place sport at the service of mankind.
- Assistance to develop "Sport for All".
- Advancement of women in sport at all levels and in all structures, with a view to achieving equality between men and women.
- Opposition to all forms of commercial exploitation of sport and athletes.
- The fight against doping.
- Promoting sports ethics and fair play.
- Raising awareness of environmental problems.
- Financial and educational support for developing countries through the IOC institution Olympic Solidarity.
"All sports for all people. This is surely a phrase that people will consider foolishly utopian. That prospect troubles me not at all. I have pondered and studied it at length, and know that it is correct and possible", wrote Pierre de Coubertin in 1919. The future proved him right.
"
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The above statement from the olympic website uses phrases like "fair play" and "all sports for all people" and "without discrimination".
In my opinion I believe the Greek hockey teams have been denied the basic things that the olympic games stand for. They should be allowed to compete, as hockey is a sport, therefore its a sport for all people, not just a sport for the "elite". They should also be allowed to compete without discrimination, yet the FIH have clearly discriminated against the Greece teams by forcing them to "qualify" for a tournament which no other host nation has ever had to do in the past. Clearly the greeks have been denied the opportunity to compete in hockey at the olympics, which in itself goes against everything the olympic movement stands for.
These people who use the argument that the olympics is for the best, and only those countries that can perform well at the elite level should participate then you also need to use that argument for all olympic sports, not just hockey. If that were the case, most sports would have 5 or 6 participants and thats all as the rest of the athletes would be considered below par. Wouldnt be much of an olympics then would it???
The biggest factor here is that the greek public wont get to see thier teams play hockey at the olympics. After the sydney Olympics most sports reported increase numbers of participants as the kids who watched australi competing in the sports got a thrill out of it, and as a result signed up for sports. Greek hockey will not get the same opportunities to grow and will fall further behind the other sports where greeks have participated. This olympic games is the perfect opportunity to showcase hockey to the greek public, because in all honesty when will greece get an opportunity to show hockey at the international level again in the near future?
My only other comment is that it would be unfair on South Africa to have them removed from the games now to make way for Greece. Therefore if FIH have any respect for what the olympics stands for, and if the IOC wants to live upto the things the olympic movement stands for, they should include Greece, and Belgium, and expand this years Olympic Tournament by 2 teams. Then they need to sort out and put in place a directive that clearly states how future Olympic games hosts will participate in the games. Either every host gets automatic qualification, or every host has to qualify. They need to do this before the next olympics hosts are announced so there can be no misunderstandings or legal action or a debacle which is what has happened here.
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YEN
05-12-2004 12:32 am
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Statistician
you are plain stupid
asian hockey is only 4 countries , ind pak , sk , malaysia
rest of the counrty is no meaning , so china sixth place in asia is no big deal.
same goes in other cups also.
so let the greeks play
numbers do not justify , get it my my dear statics.
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Pod
05-12-2004 7:21 am
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Yen
Read the comments before responding your ignorance is astounding!!
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Frankie
05-12-2004 7:27 am
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Scotty - you are naive. Do you really believe it is possibly to increase the competition by 2 teams, at this late stage? There is a myriad of issues to deal with, such as logistics, ticketing, time constraints for the extra 12 games. Also, where would the extra 32 players and the official be accomodated or would you propose that 16 competitor from the each of Greek & Belgium Olympic squads be discriminated against and be excluded to make way for the hockey players (Remember: each olympic team had to state ages ago how many competitor they would be taking to Athens).
Kala Singha - SA did not compete it the last games because the head of NOCSA, Sam Ramsamy, unilaterally excluded the hockey team 2 days after promising the FIH & IOC that he would reconsider his original decision to not send the hockey squad.
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Podge
05-12-2004 7:54 am
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Scotty
Well said mate. That would be the most sensible decision. South africa have qualified according to what they have been told by the FIH. They also reserve the right to develope the sport in their countrym and were robbed of that privilege by their own government. they could in fairness launch a similar protest against the FIH, if they are excluded, as they have met the set qualification criteria?
Scotty, your intentions are good, however th HHF need to be honest with the rest of the world, about the way they have (havent) gone about getting a place in the olympics. Withdrawing their women from a legitimate qualification tournament, while backing their men in a flawed process, is hypocritical and goes against everything you have quoted above.
Yen, you contradict yourself so blatantly, why even post here. How can you say there are only a few teams with medal contentions, and then back the 22nd ranked team in europe to compete in the games.......the stupidity lies with you friend.
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Kala Singha
05-12-2004 8:00 am
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Statistician and Podge
Yen is right..inorder to finish 5th or 6th in Asia all you need to do is beat the likes os Uzbekistan, Bangaldesh, Singapore, Hong Kong and in the Pan American cup beat the likes of Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Venezuela. In Europe your taking about beating teams that have played in previous olympics at one point in time or other - Poland, Belgium e.t.c
Correct me if I am wrong but this is the first time stringet qualifying criteria have been set for the host nation - why not before ?
Podge it seems that you realise that teams are not sent to the olympics on the basis of winning a medal but rather on the basis of participating so what is the problem with Greece participating.
So if Equitorial Guinea get to host the Olympics isn't it upto them to decide if they want to enter a team in the Hockey competetion?
I like Scotty's idea of including Greece and Belgium in the Olympics to keep everyone happy but I can't see it happenning.
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Kala Singha
05-12-2004 8:02 am
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Frankie
Precisely my point...let the Greek authorities decide if they want their team to participate not IOC or FIH
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the raja
05-12-2004 8:03 am
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Aaaarrrhh Podge,
so you are south africian,
gee, that just shows that you are totally biased in your views...doesnt it!!!
And your comments on individual sports in the olympics are totally off point..they have always had different qualifying criteria, for starters more athletes can compete as they have heats then final, that how eric the eel got in, as his national champion.
and until recently the defending champions have had direct qualification, but yes you are right not any more..well done.
but through over 100 years of precident the host nation still played in the olympics, how can you say that Australia qualified for handball in Sydney, they just got direct entry
so therefore the greeks should in Athens
bad luck springbok!!!
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Bing Jung
05-12-2004 8:25 am
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Beijing 2008
In 2008 the Olympics will take place in Beijing, and as a result China has taken the initiative to develop all sports seriously. This initiative will ensure that China can compete to the highest level in all sports and has been in progress for some time now. In hockey, the Chinese ladies team is already a powerful force in world hockey, where as the men's team still have to prove themselves internationally. Bear in mind that China would give Greece a good thrashing as it stands now, where hockey is fully professional in various provinces. Consequently the China men's team will certainly be up to the playing standard if they are not on the fringes already. Greece has not undertaken this initiative and therefore only have themselves to blame for this mess. Why should a team like Greece who aren't even in the top 30 of world rankings quailify over countries who have nurtured hockey over a long period and taken development seriously. I suggest Greece concentrates on the sport to prepare for qualification next time round-and that hard work is what Olympic spirit is about...it's not Christmas, you know...
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