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Tokyo Paralympic Games: Meet the athletes representing Greece

Alex Anyfantis
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Tokyo Paralympic Games: Meet the athletes representing Greece

The Olympic Games may be over, but that doesn’t mean that the season for playing sports is behind us! Right off the heels of the world’s greatest sporting event will be the Tokyo Paralympics, which will put all athletes with disabilities on center stage and give them their own chance to shine.

Of course, Greece will have their own team of representatives in the competition, who will aspire for greatness and hope to put their nation on the highest point of the pedestal.

In fact, this will be the first time since the Paralympics of Athens in 2004 that the blue-and-white will have such high representation, as they will participate in 11 different sports. This feat is made even more impressive when considering the current state of the world, with the pandemic forcing many athletes to refrain from training.

Most notable among the sports that Greece will compete in will be the sphere, in which both the Stefanidis father and son will take part, an event that will occur for the first time in the tournament’s history.

But it’s not only the sphere team that are worth keeping an eye on, as the Greek mission to Tokyo will include many more athletes who have high aspirations at the event, such as the Rio bronze medalist in the shotput F53, Dimitra Korokida, the silver medalist in the sabre B event in 2016, Panagiotis Triantafyllou and the silver medalist at the 2015 Glasgow swimming world championships, Antonis Tsapatakis.

In the previous Paralympics of Rio 2016, Greece performed quite admirably, collecting a total of 12 medals (five gold, four silver and four bronze). But considering their greater participation numbers in this year’s competition, it’s safe to assume that they will be aiming even higher this time around.

Some of the sports in which the Greek athletes will compete in Tokyo and the ones who will represent the “galanolefki” are written below.

  • Weight lifting (on bench): Pavlos Mamalos, Gremislav Moisiadis, Nikolaos Goudanis, Pashalis Kouloumoglou, Dimitris Mpakochristos, Anastasios Mpaos
  • Sailing: Anargyros Notaroglou, Vasilis Christoforou, Georgios Delikouras, Theodors Alexas
  • Swimming: Alexandros Taxildaris, Andreas Katsaros, Antonis Tsapatakis, Aristidis Makrodimitris, Vasilis Tsagkaris, Giannis Kostakis, Giorgos Kapellakis, Konstantinos Karaouzas, Maria Kalpakidou, Nikos Tsotras, Semiha Rizaoglou, Charalambos Taiganidis, Christos Tampaxis, Chrysoula Antoniadou
  • Boccia: Alexandros Papadakis, Grigoris Polychronidis, Maria Eleni Kordali, Nikos Pananos, Panagiotis Soulanis
  • Wheelchair fencing: Gerasimos Pylarinos, Georgios Alexakis, Emmanouil Mpogdos, Panagiotis Triantafyllou
  • Cycling: Adamantia Halkiadaki, Stamatis Kotzias, Christos Stefanakis
  • Para-shooting: Evangelos Kakoseos, Theodora Moutsiou
  • Para-archery: Anna Tzika

The 2020 Tokyo Paralympics will begin next Tuesday, August 24.

Dr Aris Gounaris to present online talk on famous urban planner, Constantinos A. Doxiadis

The Greek Herald
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Dr Aris Gounaris to present online talk on famous urban planner, Constantinos A. Doxiadis

Dr Aris Gounaris will give an online-only lecture entitled Constantinos A. Doxiadis: An urban planner of global fame, on Thursday 26 August, at 7.00pm, as part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars, offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

Constantinos A. Doxiadis (1913-1975) was an architect/master planner educated in Greece and Germany who became one of the world’s most influential and sought-after urban planning and development consultants in the late-1950s and 1960s.

This seminar will explore the critical stages of Doxiadis’ life, including his wartime resistance and espionage activities, and his efforts to rebuild Greece after the withdrawal of the Axis powers in 1944.

The seminar will also reflect on Doxiadis’ innovative approach to urban planning, or the ‘science of human settlements’, as he called it and examine how his theories informed the master plan for a new capital city, a long way from Athens.

How did Doxiadis rise from obscurity to a prominent position in the Greek bureaucracy? How did he establish credibility with foreign power brokers, who authorised and funded his post-war reconstruction plans? How would Doxiadis help Greece get back on its feet after a brutal occupation? What did Doxiadis do in Australia prior to the most productive and successful phase of his career? And which capital city is Doxiadis most closely associated with?

To answer these questions, Dr Gounaris will bring together his knowledge of modern Europe, his passion for the history of cities and curiosity about the people that shaped them, and share some interesting stories along the way.

Aris Gounaris has a PhD in philosophy and history from La Trobe University, an Executive Master of Public Administration degree from Melbourne University and a Graduate Diploma in Economics from Monash University. His thesis, Self-determination and Secession: A Remedial Rights Approach, examines the theory and practice of national self-determination with particular emphasis on the separatist conflicts in Kosovo, Chechnya and Aceh. Dr Gounaris has contributed to the ongoing debate about national self-determination through refereed publications, opinion pieces and public seminars. Dr Gounaris has delivered lectures on Nationalism in the Balkans, Greece and Yugoslavia under Nazi Occupation, Imperial Russia and Napoleon as part of La Trobe University’s Modern European History program. He also tutored in history and philosophy. Dr Gounaris is a Victorian public servant. He will present his views in a private capacity.

When: Thursday 26 August 2021, 7pm

Where: This is an online lecture and can be followed on Facebook and Youtube.

Sydney FC’s, Teresa Polias, opens up about her break from football and future plans

The Greek Herald
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Sydney FC’s, Teresa Polias, opens up about her break from football and future plans

Teresa Polias has many titles – W-League games record-holder, Sydney FC captain and school teacher at McCallums Hill Public School.

This W-League season will be notable by her absence however, as she recently announced she is taking an indefinite break from football as she is pregnant with her first child.

READ MORE: TGH Exclusive: Teresa Polias continues to bring joy to her football fans and school children.

As she stressed to The Guardian, the break is not retirement but rather a pause to reflect and reassess once she and her partner, Foti, have got their heads around parenthood.

“When I close that door, I want to close it for good. I still love the game and I was still able to perform well, so I’ll just see how I bounce back from the pregnancy and if I can physically do it,” she tells The Guardian.

READ MORE: Sydney Football Club captain Teresa Polias announces break from football.

“That’s the sort of a challenge of love. I’ve always wondered if I could do that … I’m curious, so just thought I’d leave that open.”

The 31-year-old adds that for now she is taking some amazing memories away with her. That is, not only her trophies but also being able to celebrate her victories with family.

“I don’t like putting so much praise on titles and owing all your success to titles,” she told the online media outlet.

“There’s been hundreds of moments, like sharing it with your family. The pride and joy I see in my dad every weekend when he comes to the games is just, you can’t really explain what it means to me.

“The same with my partner, they’re like best mates and they love enjoying the game together. My family have been there for the big moments as well. They’ve shared it with me.”

READ MORE: ‘We can go a step further’: Teresa Polias hopes to lead Sydney Olympic FC to NPL-W title.

Source: The Guardian.

Maria Skyllas-Kazacos’ invention paves way for planned manufacturing base in Queensland

John Voutos
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Maria Skyllas-Kazacos’ invention paves way for planned manufacturing base in Queensland

Facebook caption: Maria Skyllas-Kazacos’ work on vanadium batteries could pave the way for a mine which would create about 200 jobs in north-west Queensland. 

Greek Australian Maria Skyllas-Kazacos’s invention is about to reach unparalleled heights following Horizon Minerals and Richmond Vanadium Technology’s planned vanadium venture in Queensland. 

The Richmond-Julia Creek in Townsville could be a base for the manufacturing of batteries using vanadium resources. 

The $242 million mine would produce 790,000 tonnes of concentrate a year and create about 200 jobs. 

The technology using vanadium in batteries was developed by Professor Maria Skyllas-Kazacos at the University of NSW in the 1980s. 

In 1999, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia “for service to science and technology, particularly in the development of the vanadium redox battery as an alternative power source”.

The federal government has since funded $3.9m for the manufacturing of large-scale vanadium redox flow battery systems, as well as $1.2m for the development of a vanadium processing pilot plant. 

Source: Herald Sun, Greek Herald 

Coach, Peter Tsekenis, features in Football NSW’s COVID video campaign

The Greek Herald
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Coach, Peter Tsekenis, features in Football NSW’s COVID video campaign

Football NSW is set to roll out a campaign by various football representatives urging the community to vaccinate via a special video message.

Head coach of the Marconi Stallions FC, Peter Tsekenis, features in the campaign and can be heard encouraging people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 so we can “do the things we love” sooner.

Joining Tsekenis in the video campaign are a number of other prominent football identities as well including, former NSW Premier and now Football NSW director, Morris Iemma, Mayor of Bankstown City Khal Asfour, former Socceroos coach, Les Schienflug, football presenter, Mariana Rudan, and Football NSW director, Stephanie Brantz.

They all urge people “to give COVID-19 the boot.”

This campaign comes after news emerged that a number of club facilities across the state have been offered as mass and pop-up vaccination hubs to assist with tackling COVID-19 head on in the state.

Sydney lockdown extended for one month, new rules for LGAs of concern

The Greek Herald
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Sydney lockdown extended for one month, new rules for LGAs of concern

NSW has recorded 642 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8:00pm yesterday.

There were four COVID-19 deaths in the reporting period.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the lockdown for Greater Sydney will be extended by an additional month.

However, this will not apply Shellharbour and the Central Coast, which will be classified as regional areas.

In one of the 12 local government areas (LGAs) under enhanced lockdown ordes, a curfew will be imposed for those residents for between 9:00pm and 5:00am.

The LGAs affected by the curfew are Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Penrith and Strathfield.

From midnight Monday, August 30, NSW will also introduce a state-wide mandatory mask mandate for any person traveling outdoors unless the person is exercising.

NSW Police have also been granted additional powers to enforce the new curfew restrictions, including being able to designate a person to self-isolate for two weeks.

“If [police] find anyone outside and LGA of concern without a reasonable excuse, they will be given an infringement but in order to return home as well,” NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said.

“If someone enters an LGA of concern without excuse, not only will they be fined, they will be sent home and they will have to self isolate for 14 days.”

More to come.

Renovation work begins on Syntagma Square makeover after 17 years

The Greek Herald
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Renovation work begins on Syntagma Square makeover after 17 years

Work on the long-anticipated renovation of the lower part of Syntagma Square has finally begun, 17 years since the original plan.

The project foresees the widening of the sidewalks near the start of the pedestrian Ermou Street and the creation of a new public space that will serve as an entrance point to the capital’s commercial and historical core. Approximately 1,000 square meters of space will be freed up for pedestrians.

The plan also stipulates the planting of 28 tall trees, visible pedestrian crossings, pergolas for shade as well as modern lighting systems. Interventions facilitating the disabled will also be included.

The 1.3 million euro project is funded by the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF, or ESPA in Greek) for 2021-27. The makeover is based on a plan adopted in light of the 2004 Summer Olympics.

A pilot project last year reduced the car lanes between the square and Ermou from six to four.

Source: Ekathimerini.

Alleged Operation Ironside drug trafficker, Apostle Broikos, has valuables worth thousands seized

The Greek Herald
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Luxury watches worth hundreds of thousands of dollars were found in the bedroom of Apostle Broikos, the youngest South Australian arrested during Operation Ironside, court documents allege.

According to The Advertiser, Broikos is also alleged to have been in possession of 20 mobile phones with the AN0M app, which he was able to delete remotely as a failsafe in case of arrest.

Mr Broikos was one of 40 people arrested on June 7 – Operation Ironside resolution day – driving a Mercedes Benz sedan. Police seized $2335 cash in a bumbag on the passenger seat.

Police searched Mr Broikos’ parents’ Burnside home and allegedly found 15 watches in his bedroom, including multiple gold and silver Rolex Oyster Perpetual models, which are worth tens of thousands of dollars, The Advertiser reports.

Among the watches were several Rolex Submariners, also with price tags of about $50,000, as well as Breitling Bentley, Audemars Piguet and Tissot.

Police also seized $30,910 allegedly found in a small safe hidden in the bottom of his closet.

Court documents also reveal SA Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions moved to freeze more than $64,000 in two different bank accounts.

Mr Broikos is accused of playing the role of facilitator in two large drug operations. He will next appear in court in December.

Source: The Advertiser.

Greece requests international help as wildfires blaze on

John Voutos
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Greece requests international help as wildfires blaze on

The Greek government has sought assistance from abroad three weeks into taming wildfires which broke out on August 3. 

A major wildfire near Vilia is on the wane but not yet under control after four days, Citizens’ Protection Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis said Thursday. 

Chrisochoidis said Greece had accepted a further offer of help from Romania, which would be sending firefighters and vehicles. 

The fire has burnt homes and led to evacuations of nearby villages northwest of Athens.  

Hundreds of Greek and Polish firefighters and more than two dozen helicopters and planes have been deployed. 

PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis publicly thanks Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki for the country’s assistance

Reinforcements were sent, with 22 helicopters, including two from Russia and one from United Arab Emirates, and 11 planes providing air support to 451 firefighters and 166 vehicles. 

Nikolaos Loanas says he lost his home to the fire in the nearby village of Thea. 

“I’ve had [my house] for about 40 to 45 years and it was built through hardship, with a lot of effort, sweat and stress,” he said. 

“It was 45 years’ worth of memories. …. My wife and I moved here when we were young, my two children grew up here, played here, had fun here, my three granddaughters liked it here.”

A map shows the extent of the wildfire burning around Vilia

Firefighters have worked around the clock to exhaust fires in Evia, around Athens, and the Peloponnese. 

The government has appealed for help through the European Union emergency response team. 

About 24 European and Middle Eastern countries have responded to the request. Most have since returned home. 

The wildfires come in the wake of the country’s worst heatwave in about three decades and has parched shrubland and forests.  

While the cause of the fires has not been officially established, more than 12 people have been arrested on suspicion of arson. 

Scientists say there is little doubt that climate change from the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas is driving more extreme events. 

Source: Ekathimerini, AP 

Greece border force ‘on alert’ amidst Afghanistan crisis

John Voutos
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Greece border force ‘on alert’ amidst Afghanistan crisis

Greece’s border forces are on alert amidst the Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan. 

Greek government spokesperson Yannis Economou says border forces are hoping to avoid a repeat of the European migrant crisis which saw nearly one million people fleeing conflicts arrive five years ago. 

“All forces are on alert at the borders, we will not allow a reliving of the scenes of 2015,” he told a news conference.

Government spokesperson Yannis Economou (Copyright: EUROKINISSI / ΓΙΑΝΝΗΣ ΠΑΝΑΓΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ)

The Taliban’s takeover has stoked the fear of an exodus of Afghans. 

Thousands have already fled or are desperately trying to board flights from the capital Kabul. 

European Union (EU) member states have sought a coordinated response as they watch the country’s crisis unfold. 

Around 500 Afghan asylum seekers and local activists protested in Lesbos – where there are about 2,500 Afghans – on Monday. 

They worry about friends and family back home and demonstrated with banners that read: “We say no to Taliban.” 

Afghan migrants demonstrate against the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, on the island of Lesbos, Greece, August 16, 2021 (REUTERS/Elias Marcou)

The EU has urged member states to ramp up admission quotas for Afghans in need of protection.

Economou says Greece’s foreign ministry is planning to repatriate eight Afghan nationals who worked with Greek forces. 

“We will not stop until we bring them back to our country,” Economou says.

Source: Reuters

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