GREEK SPORT
|
"The state continues, unfortunately,
to consider sports as
a third-class activity."
Antonis K. Samaras
|
Beyond any reservations, in recent years, the field of sports, a space destined
to unite and educate, has been at the center of sterile confrontations between
parties, factions, factors with unfortunately dominant the absence of
constructive dialogue.
Tied to the chariot of the State, prey to various interests, he proceeds with a
suffocating pace and with a marked step. Recent discrimination in team and
individual sports does not negate this sad finding. On the contrary, they
highlight the effort and love of those who, through years of personal
sacrifices, give the birthplace of the Olympic spirit the right to celebrate the
achievement of distinctions. They deserve public praise.
However, without a stable and consistent program, without continuity and
perspective, through an often negated planning, without political will and with
the scourge of the famous "consideration of the political cost", Greek sport
operates, in the end, within outdated perceptions and with strong statist
commitments.
It is now time for us all to realize that the state does not play sports. The
role of the state must be clarified and delineated in relation to the role of
sports organizations and all bodies involved in the cause of Greek sports. With
an eye on the milestone of 2000 and of course on the organization of the 2004
Olympic Games, the role of all sports actors must be clarified and Greek sports
must acquire a modern sports map, according to the international data that guide
physical education and sports.
The Greek sports map must explicitly and simply define the coordinating role of
the state and highlight the role of voluntary sports organizations, starting
from the sports club, the solid cell of sports, the associations, the sports
federations, up to the National Olympic Committee, the EOA.
The map of Greek sports must be governed by the philosophy of administrative
operation of "must" and not "convenient". To express the sports ideology through
continuous dialogue that will allow the continuous evaluation and evaluation of
positions and proposals.
Spring does not believe in magical and prefabricated solutions. That is why her
proposal is an invitation for discussion and elaboration, in the context of a
national sports dialogue of positions and ideas that the field of Greek sports
has been so deprived of.
The protagonist of Sport is the athlete - first of all as a human being and for
this reason he is entitled to the best possible treatment. All the individual
political and sporting activities revolve around him. Party politics has no
place in Sports.
In particular, we propose:
The independence of Sports from the state. The Sports Charter should explicitly
and simply define the new role of the state. Our proposal for the establishment
of a Permanent Inter-Party Committee in the General Secretariat aims in this
direction, which will "shield" the space from unacceptable party intervention.
The upgrading of the role of the Olympic Games Committee (HOA) and the
redefinition of its legal form from a Public Sector Entity to a Public Law
Authority.
The decentralization of the functions of sports and the promotion of the
dominant role of the Region and the Local Government with the establishment of a
body in the form of a Public Sector Entity that will be constituted by
representatives of Associations, Associations, Federations and the HOC with the
aim of developing mass sports.
The strengthening of Amateur Sports by institutionalizing in favor of it a
sufficient percentage from the PRO-PO and from the state budget that will be
provided directly by the federations and the EDA.
The establishment of an Organization (NPID) for the development of Sports
(Exercise) for all.
The coupling of school-competitive sports for the promotion and training of
technical executives and the upgrading of the work and role of the TEFAA, in
order to become real Institutions of Research and Sports Science and to
"produce" worthy professional coaches.
The scientific support of sports with the creation of a Chair of Sports Medicine
at the University to ensure the necessary potential of coaches, trainers,
medical and paramedical staff and the provision of the right to sport to people
with special needs.
The establishment of incentives for the unhindered activity of athletes.
The support of sports Literature and Journalism.
The promotion of the social role of Sports, in close cooperation with the
competent state bodies, but also for the Church.
The creation of a Museum of the History of Sports.
The safeguarding of the prestige and credibility of the institution of Sports
Justice and the establishment of Judicial and Disciplinary Bodies for football
and basketball in Thessaloniki.
The fight against doping and violence (primarily through the adoption of
substantial preventive measures) and the promotion of the rules of "in
competition" (FAIR-PLAY).
As far as the organization of the 2004 Olympic Games is concerned, the unanimity
and solidarity of everyone must be the permanent goal and govern the
government's decisions and choices. In particular, in order to ensure
transparency in the management of the huge funds, it is necessary to have
effective control that can be achieved in the presence of a regular judge for
each of the SA to be established. "In 2004, we will all take exams as a nation",
as Antonis Samaras has observed, to add that: "These Games must be a
breakthrough and the historians of the future should talk about the Olympics
BEFORE and AFTER Athens".
It is useful, moreover, to record that the Greek proposal for a general
ceasefire, on a global scale, was first put forward by the President of the
Spring, noting characteristically:
"The fact that the first Olympic Games of the third millennium will be held in
their birthplace reinforces our ambitious but reasonable demand for a global
general ceasefire during them. Something that we can claim with perseverance and
seriousness in the UN and the FORA."
|
