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FIH responds to HHF News Release  x13
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| International Hockey Federation |
May 6, 2004 
FIH
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FIH Statement
The FIH acknowledges receipt of yesterday’s statement from the Hellenic Hockey Federation (HHF), regarding Olympic Qualification.
FIH maintains its position that the Hellenic Olympic Committee and HHF had accepted that Greece would not qualify automatically. However, it will take issue with this and other allegations contained in the statement via what its statutes define as the appropriate channel, chosen by the HHF, that is, the Court of Arbitration in Sports (CAS).
FIH has full confidence in CAS to issue a swift decision which must be accepted by all parties and regrets HHF’s actions to pursue the matter otherwise.
In the meantime, in advance of the meeting of CAS on Wednesday 19 May, FIH refers to its earlier press release, issued on 20 February 20004 , requoted
below:
FIH News Release: Greece to Contest Olympic Qualifying Procedure at CAS
20 Feb 2004
The Hellenic Hockey Federation has submitted a dispute to the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) 17 February 2004, concerning the qualification of the Greek Men’s team to the XXVII Olympic Games, reports the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
Greece, the host nation of the XXVII Olympic Games, was 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 2003. Greece did not qualify for this tournament but there was a second opportunity for Greece to qualify for the Olympics.
This required Greece to beat the 12th qualified team of the Men’s Olympic Qualifier in a best of three play-off competition. Canada, the 12th qualified team at the Qualifiers, would keep its place in the Qualifier regardless of whether it won or lost against Greece, but there would be six places at stake at the Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Madrid if Greece qualified, rather than seven.
Greece participated under protest in the Men’s Qualifying Play-Off Competition held 18 and 19 February in Madrid.
The results of the play-off are:
18.02.04 Match 1: Canada 7 Greece 1
19.02.04 Match 2: Greece 1 Canada 3
21.02.04 Match 3: Following the FIH Tournament Regulations, as the same team won the first two matches, it was not compulsory to play the third match.
The teams have agreed not to play the final match.
For further information on the qualification procedures for the Olympics and detailed reports from the play-off series, see www.worldhockey.org.
Peter Cohen, FIH Hon. 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."
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Comments on this article
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Manny
05-07-2004 11:09 pm
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Qualifcation
I've had a discussion about this with many of my hockey brothers. How crazy can the FIH be. Let us consider the Indoor World Cup. What would make up the best top teams in the world? I would think maybe 8 German teams and two others. What would be the point? We are trying to promote hockey world wide. With the reasoning of FIH why shouldn't we have the top 12 teams in the world and stop these rediculous qualifing tournaments. After all hockey is only about the elete teams and God forbid that any up and coming team should have an opportunity.
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yen
05-08-2004 8:54 am
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greeks
must play as host nation, its killing sprit of olympics,
imagine USA having oly and they are not allowed but usa is usa , standard or no standard they will play, why double standard , recenty in pan american games
dom rep pleyed losing matches 30 - 0 or so.
let the geeks play both mens and womens
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JanFloriceBeerlander
05-09-2004 10:33 am
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FIH does not answer all questions...
Interesting: FIH with no word gave a comment on the main point of the Greek press realease: that FIH although having accepted Greece´s contest at before now sent them a letter with their lawyer taking this decission back: FIH now says Greece´s plea came too late. Fortunately there is written proof that FIH already had accepted Greece´s action - but all this shows the Hockey World how FIH really works and how they "support" Hockey and it´s development. It is sickening to see how a international body tries to gamble and even takes back it´s own rules. Shame on FIH and everybody supporting this organization which reminds me of "cosa nostra"...
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must play???
05-10-2004 11:57 am
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They could play as hosts for the spirit of the games etc, but the bottom line is they are gonna get whipped. Doesn't set a very good example for Hockey if theres one team out there being constantly beaten - heavily.
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Podge
05-10-2004 10:00 pm
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Sub Judice
Jan or Alex or Costa or whatever your real name is- I would say that the reason the FIH are not responding is because the matter is sub judice. There is a court case in a weeks time, and unlike the Greeks, they are leaving deliberations for the courts as that is what the Greeks wanted. Now suddenly the greeks are running a smear campaign in the press including postings on this site under pseudonyms like JanFloriceBeerlander and getting their national psuedo Greek players to post comments to try and further their case. Let the court decide, stop dragging hockey thru the mud!!
Its disgusting that some third rate players from europe and australia have sold out their own countries and have been handed greek citizenship to have the honour of being called an olympian. Its a disgrace to sport and the Very event that the Greeks invented!!
The FIH are far from perfect, but at least they are protecting our sport from unscrupulous individuals. The IOC is trying to trim the number of Olympic sports down, and this is just the situation to kick Hockey out of the Olympics.....
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JanFloriceBeerlander
05-11-2004 5:02 am
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@Podge Spice
Dear Podge!
Usually i prefere not to answer brainless comments like yours because they for themselves tell enough about the author but this is a good one so I will have to put your missinformation straight again:
1) Nobody sold out his homecountry as all players of the Greek national team are of Greek origin. It seems that some south African commentators like you (or u are paid by FIH?) can´t accept that fact but ok - maybe you just don´t know it so I am telling you now. I know for example that all the "Australian" players you mentioned have fully Greek parents and were just born in Australia. Rob Short who is playing for Canada for example is born in GB - so is he selling out his home country? Think mate....just think.
2) Greeks are not running a campaign, they just want to let the hockey world know how their international body is treating local organizations - or do you think FIH would ever admitt that they tried to take back their decission to accept Greece´s appeal? This is something the hockey world must know and I fully understand HHF´s decission to make this public. If u call it a dirty media campaign then you yourself are accusing FIH dirty - thx for that, you finally understood - as it is just facts about FIH´s treating HHF that have been published.
3) I am not Costa or Alex - I am proud of my nickname!
4) FIH is far from perfect, good to hear that you admitt that - and they have done nearly everything wrong so far concerning the protection of the hockey sport. Bad Marketing, PR, even worse protecting local organizations by selling out HHF to IOC and stabing in HHFs back. All FIH did for the development of Greek Hockey was sending Bovelander as "inspector" 2 years ago to Greece were he did - look at my nickname - guess what?
5) I would like to know why you hate Greece and Greek hockey so much, are you south African? I hope not as i fully resepct SA´s attempt to go to the Olympics, I am sure they have earned a place there and again I have to say that it is FIH´s fault that they have let this situation escalte and come so far.
6) I don´t think it need Greek national team players to comment on this homepage, all you need is common sense and a little bit of behind the scenes information - actually not even that, just read what both parties publish and start to think, unfortunately many people forgett to do the last thing mentioned...
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USA FAN
05-11-2004 5:13 am
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I AGREE WITH YEN
YA LET GREEKS PLAY , YEN DEAR
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podge
05-12-2004 12:38 am
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Your comments Jan
I do not hate Greek hockey or Greeks as a nation, nowhere was that mentioned, so dont try drag my name through the dirt too. Why do you hate FIH so much? Is the Greek issue just an opportunity to pour you heart out? What does my nationality or profession have to do with anything? I come from Guatemala anyway where hockey is not a popular sport.....just look at my name- what is your nationality or do you hold more than one passport?
The facts as they stand are honest and true:
All other olympic hosts have qualified to play in the olympics through the correct channels.
All olympic sports have qualifying criteria and standards (thats why they are called olympic)
I have no problem with people adopting nationalities, but when it is done in a blatant way, to make up for an obvious lack of any foresight or thinking with regards to the national development of a sport, I do have a problem with that.
To drag Rob Short's respected name into the arguement from a Canadian team that has worked hard at their hockey and to compare it with the current greek players is an insult to him. Here is a man who has been capped over 200 times for his country, has given his life to hockey in Canada, and you use him as a relative comparison. You cant compare apples with oranges mate....just think...
Greece have been asleep for 5 of the seven years that they knew that they would be olympic hosts, and now suddenly there is chaos and emotion surrounding the realities they tried to dream away. They appointed Cedric D'Souza 2 years ago to kick start an 'olympic campaign' that should have been started through a junior program in 1997. The responsibility for the debacle lies with the HHF, not world hockey or the IOC. I am sure the FIH reserves the right to correct stand points, as Olympic rules and competition is governed by the IOC and they need to have a policy that aligns to that stand point.
Jan, How do you justify the Greek women being withdrawn from their legitimate qualifying tournament? Was the financial excuse, because it would be hypocritical to send the women to the qualifier when the men are contesting non-qualification in court. Why is their case not being taken to the courts...are women different in Greece? They are a higher ranked team and made it through to the qualifiers, unlike the men.
As for the FIH, I dont work for them I am not paid by them, but they have shown bold moves by awarding tournaments to China, Cuba, Peurto Rico, USA to name but a few, and they have secured global sponsors for the game for the first time, while hockey is experiencing a growth period by all accounts.
My sympathies lie with the Greek players (the genuine greek players) and the coaching staff who have put in a lot of hours. But then again that is the requirement to compete at an olympic level.However I think its unethical for players to try and lend support to a process that is sub judice by writing slanderous posts on this site. To make it worse, the HHF asked for the case to go to court!!Its bad taste to embark on a media plea and smacks of sour grapes.
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Alex
05-13-2004 6:43 am
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Podge
let me tell some facts.
the fih set the qualification criterias for the greek nation team competing against the last ranked team from the previous world cup....Cuba!
Cuba withdrew....so the the fih,without agreement or asking the hhf,changed the criterias to "the last qualified team from the qulifying tournament"...still Cuba but as i said earlier,they withdrew...so Canada as 1st reserve entered the spot.
tough luck that the fih can tell every team who they have to play...he?!
what would you do if you were greek?????????and i just want to know your oppinion to this question.so please answer me what you would do if someone treats you like this.Im just curious to know.
just to let you know i´m player in the greek national team....entered the squad 4 years ago and i´m greek like a greek can be.
it´s the first time i´m posting anything on the net.but because nobody had asked this before i had too.
anyway we´ll find out soon
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JanFloriceBeerlander
05-13-2004 9:00 am
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Answer my questions Podge
Unfortunately you have not given one answer to any of my questions. And you are blindly defending FIH which makes you obviusly biased. I am also wondering how someone from Guatemala knows so much about Greek players and where they are born. I guess you talked to them to be so damns sure they are not of Greek origin and I guess you also toalked to the Government officials to know that they have been given hurriedly a passport...and it seems you perfectly know about HHF´s development programs...
As to Rob Short: He is in EXACTLY the same position as some players of the Greek national team: born abroad but playing for their homecountry.
I don´t like it when people tryto put dirt over some other nation/idea without of having any information or facts.
And pelase again: answer my questions! Why has FIH not admitted the fact that they tried to take their accepetance for HHFs appeal back?
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Cintas
05-13-2004 10:18 am
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JanFloriceBeerlander
Whether or not anyone agrees with your position on Greek participation, your method of argument is very offensive. You call names, make absurd accusations and in general don't follow logical lines of thinking. I could give a fig for who is right in this argument, but the more of your posts I read the more I stop caring about the plight of the Greek team. Try and lift the level of your debate and treat people with respect.
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Podge
05-18-2004 4:13 am
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Jan
Jan. there is still no point in your arguement. The FIH are entrusted with protecting the game, as well as developing it. I think you are placing too much emphasis on the fact that you or greece played Canda and not Cuba. Greece agreed to the concept of qualification, thats why they were to play Cuba, however they cannot pick and choose the countries they choose to play against. Cuba withdrew, so the undertaking by Greece to play in a qualification match still stood, and by default Canada were the next best team. No one is screwing any one over. YOu are just pissed off at the FIH because dutch people like beer?
Greece only have themselves to blame for the debacle. Its also ludicrous that they imply that they would have beaten Cuba. You cant run an international sport on assumptions mate. Is it fair for me to say that Cuba would have cleaned up Greece, like all the other top 30-40 hockey nations? Thats all their argument is based on as reflected in their press release.
Stop running away from the facts at hand, and be honest about the situation. Why have they not appealed for their women if this is such a big issue?
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vangelaki
05-18-2004 12:01 pm
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athens
Is the world considering Greece and the Greek hockey players as troubleshooters?
It is very disappointing for a federation and the players not to be able to play in their own country the olympics.
M. Rogge said ,and he his right, NO more automatic selection after these Games.
Why then this tricky situation created by FIH .
Hope the guys will play.
Yassou
Vangelaki
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