Posted on 07/23/2004 7:47:46 PM PDT by nypokerface
The president of the Greek Baseball Federation has claimed that the Olympic team cannot afford to fly home from its training camp in America.
"At this moment we don't have money for our team to come to participate in the Olympics," said Panos Mitsiopoulos.
Mitsiopoulos claimed the federation had received just one third of the £200,000 promised for Olympic preparations.
"This is happening with all the (Greek Olympic) teams. All the federations are complaining," he added.
It is the latest setback to affect the Greek baseball side after coach Dimitris Goussios threatened to resign.
Goussios was angry that the 24-man squad picked by the Hellenic Amateur Baseball Federation contained just two home-based players.
The Greek team was created with the help of the Baltimore Orioles' Greek-American owner Peter Angelos.
And the majority of the places in the squad went to players from the United States and Canada with Greek heritage.
"I feel very bitter. I've been used and I feel insulted as a person and as a coach," said Goussios, who claimed he had not been consulted.
"I'll fight this up until the last minute."
Let that loser trial lawyer Angelos pay the bill.
Another example of what a disaster this Greece Olympics is going to be.
why can't they practice in greece
my bad, why DIDN'T they practice in greece?
Greece had better hope Mr. Angelos doesn't field the same caliber of team for Greece as he fields for Baltimore.
On a serious note, notice that American contractors, through their European subsisiaries, are speeding up the construction of the Olympic village, and NATO (ieUSA)will be providing most of the security.
When is Europe ever going to be able to do anything (besides starting world wars and committing genocide)on their own?
You mean a team that just hits and can't pitch? Nice signing with Sydney Ponson.
Most Euroweenies don't share the same work ethic we do here in the States. Just take a look at the lazy French.
I am looking forward to seeing the mess of these Olympics
No,no,no! You mean,"Another example of what a disastermemorable this Greece Olympics is going to be." (grin)
Too slippery I'd imagine.
Do you have some secret way of seeing the Olympics that doesn't involve NBC? All we're going to be seeing are commercials, touching stories about the athletes' families and maybe (if they can squeeze it in) a minute or two of sports each evening.
LOL! Very clever.
Where? there are no baseball facilities.
All the expertise and ablility and the best facilities are here in the states.
In addition, I bet they came here because of promises made.
I do. I am going to be there in person.
A round of Ouzo for my freeper friends!
OPA!
Darn. Your right. They will air some on CNBC, MSNBC and Bravo too apparently.
I hope you report all about whatever problems there are.
They wanted to train against the best.
Can't we help these boys on a Greek freighter out of Jersey...maybe working on the deck to help pay the way? Surely they could make it in time...if they left immedately. This would be sensational journalism...live from the freighter deck...MSN....broadcasting about the players running around the ship to stay in shape. And the arrival of the freighter in Greece would be a national-thing...everyone would come out as the boat pulled up to the dock. Greece would be saved.
Why wait?
The Greek Sat. channels are reporting every night.
The latest complaint is the fact the crosswalk lights on some of the new roads are not connected and the walks not painted. People are already getting hurt.
Not ot appologize or excuse, but Athens had no modern roadways or infrastructure. The Olympics was a shot in the arm to upgrade their main cities. In the six years since the award of the games, they have their first highways, the new modern airport was built, the metro was FINALLY completed (hard to dig when you hit ancient stuff every 10 yards, wait for archeologist to mark, wait for archeologist to remove, and repeat). Their transparent goal has been to focus on the stuff that will be used after the games are a memory.
If we are expecting the LA games or the Sanitized choreographed Atlanta games, don't.
From my too many trips there the unnoficial Olympic prayer is "God, please don't let us embarass our country."
Zero hotels have been built (not counting the olympic village). At last count four cruise ships are being brought in to house media and some dignitaries.
I have no illusion that more than a few noticable things will not be done but the heavy lifting stuff is complete or darn near complete.
Its a country of a little over 11 million spread out over a peninsula and hundreds of islands. (one time zone for your convenience)
Because most of them aren't Greek. Two are Greek "...contained just two home-based players." The rest are Americans and Canadians, "...And the majority of the places in the squad went to players from the United States and Canada"
If they play this right they could win the hearts of the public if not the gold. (and get a movie deal about olympic dreams...)
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