27-06-2008

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BY GEORGE GEORGAKOPOULOS Greek club soccer success is, most of the time, split between the top three teams – Olympiakos, Panathinaikos and AEK – and the rest of the league, with occasional exceptions from Thessaloniki clubs – PAOK, Aris and Iraklis – struggles to win trophies. Last season, all three top clubs suffered surprise losses to minor teams, injecting added interest to the Super League. Yet, this summer, Olympiakos and Panathinaikos are breaking further away from AEK, causing the gap with the rest of the teams to grow to gaping proportions. The two representatives that Greece will have this year in the Champions League qualifying round appear determined to spend heavily in the transfer market, while the other Super League clubs seem unable to match them. Both of them have acquired big names from the field of European coaching, Olympiakos acquiring Spaniard Ernesto Valverde and Panathinaikos hiring Dutch Henk Ten Cate. AEK has instead opted for a Greek up-and-rising coach who used to be at Larissa, Giorgos Donis. While AEK and Aris are mostly sticking to the players that got them to the UEFA Cup last year, Olympiakos is in search of big names in Spain, while Panathi- 20 naikos has already paid good money for the services of Larissa’s Silva Cleyton and PAOK’s Lazaros Christodoulopoulos. It remains to be seen exactly how strong the top two will grow and whether the other teams can try to match them on the field when the league begins. Ten Cate arrival Promising attractive soccer with the best possible results to Panathinaikos fans, Ten Cate came to Athens and was officially present on Wednesday after- ATHENSPLUS • FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2008 Gap opens further in club soccer Olympiakos and Panathinaikos grow stronger with new players while others lag Sailing triumph for Greek Tornado duo Uneven league Virtually the entire transfer market depends on the moves of the two giants Lifters brace for Beijing What a few weeks ago seemed like a dream that could not be fulfilled, is now a reality, as the International Weightlifting Federation has allowed Greece to field four athletes in this summer’s Olympic Games. Valerios Leonidis, the former assistant coach of the national team, who has now taken over from his mentor, Christos Iakovou, after the doping scandal involving the latter and 11 athletes in March, has invited seven athletes to compete in the four Olympic spots. Dimitris Kyrillidis (69 kilograms), Spyros Stamatiadis (77 kg), Costas Garipis and Tasos Triantafyllou (94 kg), Nikos Kourtidis (105 kg) and Panayiotis Anastasiadis (+105 kg) will fight for the three spots in the men’s team, while Victoria Mavridou (+75 kg) Henk Ten Cate points the way for Panathinaikos into the new season, but are the rich getting richer and the poor poorer, with three Athenian teams dominating the league? [EPA] Champion Nikos Kourtidis is preparing for the Olympics. [EPA] will almost definitely be Greece’s sole female representative. The country’s top weightlifter, Nikos Kourtidis, said that “precious time has now been lost, but I will aim at a good performance as long as I have time to adjust back to full training.” noon. “Our aim is to win the title, but I cannot promise that. I want to change the mentality of the team, give it self-confidence and make it play attractive football,” he stated. The 51-year-old former assistant coach at Chelsea said it is an honor for him to be the first manager in the club’s second century, adding that he wants the fans to fill the Olympic Stadium. “My aim is to fill the stands of the stadium in every home game. This can only happen through attractive play, through beautiful FRIDAY SPORTS CHANNEL TENNIS 15.00 Wimbledon NS1 SAILING 00.00 ORCi champ. ET1 MOTORCYCLING 00.30 Dutch GP ET3 SATURDAY TENNIS 15.00 Wimbledon NS1 SAILING 00.00 ORCi champ. ET1 MOTORCYCLING 14.30 Dutch GP ET3 SUNDAY SOCCER 21.45 Euro 2008 final NET football with the team winning and fans coming to the ground to see us,” said a confident Ten Cate. “Panathinaikos was not worse than any other team last year, yet the pressure on players was such that it made the title slip through their fingers,” he argued, after saying he has watched several games from last year’s Super League on video. “My job is to ensure they do not have that pressure anymore; on the contrary, they should enjoy the conditions that professional footballers deserve.” ON TV BEACH SOCCER 16.00 Greek champ. NS1 VOLLEYBALL 18.00 Britain vs Greece NS1 02.45 Venezuela vs Brazil SAILING NS1 14.30 ORCi champ. Sport+ ATHLETICS 06.00 Skai Olympus Marathon Skai MONDAY TENNIS 15.00 Wimbledon NS1 ATHLETICS 19.00 Tofalia meeting ET1 SAILING 15.00 SOCCER ORCi champ. Sport+ 21.00 DC United vs LA Galaxy NS1 IN BRIEF Iordanis Paschalidis and Costas Trigonis retained their crown in the European Tornado Championship held off the coast of Thessaloniki. The Greek crew had been trailing two French boats for most of the competition but, on the last day Wednesday, they edged ahead to win the trophy. They also finished first in the Open category. Paschalidis and Trigonis are now gearing up to compete for a medal in the Olympic Games in China this August. ● ●●● US hoopster caught in the act Olympiakos basketball player Quintel Woods was caught using cannabis during the final series of the Greek league, held less than a month ago. The results of the US forward’s test were released this week and effectively ruled out any chances he had of staying on the roster of the league runners-up in the new season. Woods had also been disqualified during the third game of the best-of-five series for punching an opponent. ● ●●● Baghdatis reaches third round in Wimbledon Marcos Baghdatis secured his spot in the third round of Wimbledon on Wednesday, thanks to his 3-0 win over Swedish player Thomas Johansson. The Cypriot tennis star dismissed his unseeded opponent 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. In the previous round, the tournament’s 10th seed had dropped a set against Belgium’s Steve Darcis. ● ●●● Greek athletes in the Super League The national track and field team managed to stay in the European Cup’s Super League – which has been renamed the European Championship as of next season – thanks to the excellent performances of the women's team. Greece’s women won five gold medals in Division A in Istanbul, while only two men finished at the top of their event in the Super League, which took place in Annecy, France.
Sailing in the Argonauts’ wake With its long maritime history, Greece is an ideal place for children to learn how to ride the waves Greeks have always had a close relationship with the sea and sailing comes somewhat naturally to people in this country. Each outing, each race is a new lesson for recreational or competitive sailors. At the same time, they learn all about aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, meteorology and shipbuilding. Most children begin sailing classes in a small boat for a single occupant, usually the Optimist type. Most of the country’s champions clocked their first nautical miles in this category. Safety first ‘There is no chance a child can come into in danger,’ says coach Dimitiris Zouganelis “A child can enter the Optimist class from the age of 6; many athletes have familiarized themselves with the sea in this way,” says sailing instructor Takis Strouzas. “Instruction is conducted by very experienced coaches who monitor children from boats at a close distance. They first teach them to tie knots, then how to stand up and steer such a boat, and then how to use the sails,” says Strouzas, director of training at the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club (POIATH). Children usually sail in the Optimist class up to about the age of 15 and then choose another category in which to continue. Instruction is conducted at the clubs, which also provide the boats, and lasts about three months. Fees vary from club to club, while there are very few which offer lessons to beginners for free. Usually the monthly rates start at 15 euros and can reach up to 120 euros. “Teaching is theoretical as well as practical. A course can be as long as four months. A basic prerequisite is for children to know how to swim,” says Dimitris Zouganelis, Optimist coach at the Yacht Club of Greece (YCG). “Each athlete has his own life vest while for every five children there is one teacher,” he stresses. “There is no chance a child can come into in danger.” Teachers are graduates of the University School of Physical Education with a specialization in sailing, while clubs are registered under the auspices of the Hellenic Sailing Federation (HSF). There are over 185 clubs in Greece, most of which offer sailing lessons. HSF data show that more than 5,000 people are involved in the sport in Greece, a figure that is rather low given the country’s association with the sea. Children wishing to learn the techniques of sailing need three courses of lessons. They can then seek a spot in their club’s pre-competitive group. When they reach the age of 15 or 16, they can choose an Olympic or non- Olympic class to continue with the sport. The Olympic classes are Finn, Yngling, Star, 470, Laser Radial, Laser Standard, Tornado, 49ers and RSX windsurf. ATHENSPLUS • FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2008 SPORTS & LEISURE The nature-loving athlete’s choice Skai Olympus Marathon provides a challenge in a unique environment The fifth edition of the Olympus Marathon, the yearly race which takes place on Greece’s highest mountain, is set for June 27, with the support of Skai Television and Radio. Some 550 athletes from 19 countries will be at Ancient Dion on Sunday morning at dawn to once again follow the sacred route of ancient times to the peak of the mountain of the gods. The meaning of the race is multiple: In addition to its historical symbolism it also rings a warning bell about the ongoing destruction of the country’s natural wealth as well as climate change on the planet. Taking part will be several champion mountain runners, including Corinne Favre (France), Jessed Hernandez (Spain), Christophe Jaquerod (Switzerland), Dawa Sherpa (Nepal), Toni Vencelj (Slovenia) as well as Greeks Alexis Gounko and Nikos Kalofyris. The race has its roots in an ancient tradition. Every summer, pilgrims to the ancient city of Dion followed a sacred route Ancient roots The race follows the sacred route once taken by pilgrims in antiquity to pay homage to Zeus, the father of the gods up to the top of the mountain in order to honor the father of the gods, Zeus. The modern route begins at Dion and winds up the picturesque paths leading to the top of Olympus at 2,800 meters, before descending to Litochoro. The thrilling but very tough course stretches for a total of HSF data show that more than 5,000 people are involved in the sport in Greece, which has a close association with the sea. 44 kilometers. The Skai Olympus Marathon is one of the most demanding races of its kind internationally, as the steep slopes and rough terrain can be exhausting. Making conditions even more difficult, the highest leg of the race has athletes running against the wind in snow remaining from the winter. While walkers require about two to three days to complete the course, Kalofyris, an athlete from Metsovo, set the race record at 4 hours 56 minutes in 2006.Among the race’s fringe events this year is the first meeting of the Athletes’ Initiative on the future of mountain races, aimed at protecting mountain paths as a part of the nation’s heritage and highlighting their abandonment. For more information, log on to www.olympus-marathon.com. CLUBS Where to go There are dozens of clubs with sailing classes for children around the country. Anyone interested can contact the Hellenic Sailing Federation at tel 210.940.4825 or on www.eio.gr. Here are a few clubs around Greece: • Piraeus Sailing Club, Mikrolimano, Piraeus 210.417.7636 • Palaio Faliron Nautical Club 210.981.4835, www.nopf.gr • Kalamaki NC 210.982.9878 • Tzitzifies-Kallithea NC 210.413.1819, www.notk.gr • Aegina NC 22970.24488 • Olympiakos SF Piraeus 210.419.0902, www.osfp.gr • Varkiza-Vari Nautical Sports Club, Varkiza 210.897.4305 • Athens NC, Mikrolimano, Piraeus 210.412.7757 • Katikon Vouliagmenis NC 210.967.1142, www.nokv.gr • Alexandroupolis NC 25510.28577 • Katerini NC 23510.61408, www.nokat.gr • Kavala NC 2510.222897, nokavalas.gr • Thessaloniki NC 2310.414521, www.ncth.gr • Porto Rafti SC, Avlaki 22990.75547, www.iopor.gr • Mati Attikis NSC 22940.34513, www.naoma.gr • Halcyon NC, Rafina 22940.25535 • Porto Karras NC, Halkidiki 23750.71380 • Moudania NC, Nea Moudania 23730.23990, www.nom.gr • Kerkyra NSC, Corfu 26610.30470 • Laconia NC, Gytheion 27330.25451, www.geocities.com/nolsail Runners competing in the Olympus Marathon often to have to deal with fog, wind and even snow, as happened in 2006. 21
Page 1 and 2: + Athens + Plus Weekly newspaper pu
Page 3 and 4: Boogie nights 1 2 3 4 1 Party Press
Page 5 and 6: Law amended A law passed in 2001 ba
Page 7 and 8: Firefighters across Attica and much
Page 10 and 11: Athens Stock Exchange General Index
Page 12 and 13: Milestones Footnotes + BY NIKOS KON
Page 14 and 15: ATHENSPLUS • FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 200
Page 16: 1 2 3 16 BOOKS Art for toddlers “
Page 19: Athens hosts its first Festival of
Page 23 and 24: News & tips Fake but fabulous A pri
Page 25 and 26: e, not style not as lofty as that o
Page 27 and 28: An architectural recipe for better
Page 29 and 30: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Top 10 Driving
Page 31 and 32: ATHENSPLUS • FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 200
Page 33 and 34: BY MYRSINI LAMBRAKI The cuisine of
Page 35 and 36: Sun, surf, ABBA ‘Mamma Mia!’ op
Page 37 and 38: The Incredible Hulk 0.30 6 Horton H
Page 39 and 40: Saturday June 28 ET1 Tel.: 210.770.
Page 41 and 42: Wednesday July 2 ET1 Tel.: 210.770.
Page 43 and 44: BY HARIS ARGYROPOULOS Andros, the n
Page 45 and 46: Public transport Tickets Tickets mu
Page 47 and 48: FROM PIRAEUS (Harbor master tel 210

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