Lack of funding puts a halter on yet again something beautiful. A sporting event long-expected in Crete will eventually not take place because crisis-hit Greece won’t and can’t afford it. The organization was suspended until further notice. The saddest part is that we are on the threshold of the 2012 Olympic Games and that our athletes could benefit from practicing in a national competition.
The Greek Amateur Athletics Federation, SEGAS, announced the July 7 Vardinoyannia Games would not take place because the local track association cannot pay for maintenance at the Gallos Municipal Stadium in the Cretan city of Rethymno.
The decision was taken on June 21, and every subsequent effort to resolve the financial problems proved vain, the federation said on Thursday. Amid the crisis, sponsors have turned into an endangered species.
The “Vardinoyannia” meet takes place in memory of the politician from Rethymno Pavlos I. Vardinoyannis, now in its 27th year. Let’s hope that next year something changes and everything goes back to normal.
Greek sports have been hard hit during the country’s financial crisis, with SEGAS suspending its operations in April for several weeks.
Greek qualifying events for the London Olympics had been moved to a smaller track meet on Saturday in the western city of Patras for theTofalia Games.
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