Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-08-23

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

CONTENTS

[01] GREEK OLYMPIC GOLD IN WOMEN'S 20 KM WALK

[02] CHALKIA-DEVETSI QUALIFIED FOR THE FINALS

[03] IOC DENIES RUMORS ON SECRET AGREEMENT WITH KENTERIS-THANOU

[04] ROUSOPOULOS ON SAMPANIS AND THE DOPING SCANDALS

[05] GAINS IN THE ASE

[06] THE EU MILITARY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES CLOSING

[07] THE PRESIDENT OF BULGARIA IS IN ATHENS

[01] GREEK OLYMPIC GOLD IN WOMEN'S 20 KM WALK

Athanasia Tsoumeleka won the gold medal in Women's 20 km Walk and now Greece has 5 gold medals ranking 13th regarding the number of medals won.

Home star Athanasia Tsoumeleka (GRE) defeated all pre-race favourites to take the the Women's 20 km Walk title in a personal best time of 1:29.12.

Olimpiada Ivanova (RUS) was second, fours seconds behind, while Jane Saville (AUS) took bronze four years after having been dramatically disqualified just before entering the Sydney Olympic Stadium when in the gold medal position.

In total, Greece has 8 medals of which 5 are gold namely, that of Tsoumeleka, Tampakos' in the Rings, Bimis-Siranidis pair in men's synchronized diving, Tsoufla-Bekatorou pair in sailing and Ilias Iliadis' in judo, a silver by Tasoula Kelesidou in discus throw and two bronze medals won by Pirros Dimas in weightlifting and Polimeros-Skiathitis pair in rowing.

Stavroula Zygouri is expected to win a bronze in women's wrestling (62 kg).

The Prime Minister and political leadership congratulated the athletes for their successes.

For the record, Greece had won a total of 13 medals in the Olympic Games in Sydney.

[02] CHALKIA-DEVETSI QUALIFIED FOR THE FINALS

The Greek athletes, who competed yesterday in preliminary pools, sent out very optimistic signals that they could win medals in the finals.

Fani Chalkia broke a Greek record and an Olympic record and made the fifth best ever performance in the women's 400 m hurdles, while Pigi Devetsi with 15.32 m in women's triple jump broke a Greek record and her performance was the second best this year in the specific sport.

Olga Vasdeki qualified easily for the triple jump final with 14.54 m given the fact that the qualification limit was 14.45 m.

Alexandra Papageorgiou qualified for the women's hammer throw final to take place on Wednesday with 68.58 m.

[03] IOC DENIES RUMORS ON SECRET AGREEMENT WITH KENTERIS-THANOU

International Olympic Committee, IOC, Coordinating Committee President Dennis Oswald denied information according to which, the IOC has reached a secret agreement with Greek sprinters Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou and their coach Christos Tzekos to have the anti-doping violation case, in which they are involved, closed.

In an interview with the Athens newspaper TA NEA, Mr. Oswald stated referring to the two athletes that he realizes that they are in a difficult and unpleasant position.

On the way the Olympic Games in Athens are organized, he said that he is impressed and commenting on the criticism made during the preparations period he stated that it was unfair especially regarding the issue of safety.

What we experience today was only in my dreams six months ago, said Mr. Oswald, adding characteristically, Athens will always have a special place in my heart.

[04] ROUSOPOULOS ON SAMPANIS AND THE DOPING SCANDALS

The state has an obligation to protect itself. But it is not a machine that grinds people and consciences. Leonidas Sampanis will have the opportunity to appeal to the responsible bodies to prove his innocence, stated Greek government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos responding to questions by journalists, while he also clarified that the specific athlete can appeal to the Sports Court in Lausanne.

Mr. Rousopoulos stated that even though the previous government had created a legislative framework on doping control it was never activated.

Responding to pressing questions on Greek sprinters Kenteris and Thanou, Mr. Rousopoulos stated that a judicial inquiry is underway and reiterated that the government's will is to undertake all necessary initiatives to deal with such phenomena that hurt the country's prestige.

[05] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.70% at 2243.01 points, while the volume of transactions was very small at 48.4 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 141 had gains and 137 had losses, while the value of 125 stocks remained unchanged.

[06] THE EU MILITARY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES CLOSING CEREMONY

European Union Military Committee Chairman General Mosca Moschini will visit Greece on August 27-30 as the formal guest of Greece's National Defense General Staff Chief General Georgios Antonakopoulos to watch the Athens Olympic Games closing ceremony on Sunday, August 29.

During his stay in Athens General Moschini will visit archaeological sites and watch Olympic sports events.

[07] THE PRESIDENT OF BULGARIA IS IN ATHENS

Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov arrived in Athens on Sunday on the occasion of the Day of Bulgaria in the Olympic Games. Today, he will watch the weightlifting and beach volleyball events.

The Bulgarian President is scheduled to meet with President Kostis Stephanopoulos, while he has already met with Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis.

On Sunday, the Bulgarian President met with International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge.

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article