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Greek-Australian Olympian Michael Diamond selling gold medal for heart transplant funds

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Greek-Australian Olympian Michael Diamond selling gold medal for heart transplant funds

Former Greek-Australian Olympic shooting champion Michael Diamond is in possible need of a heart transplant and is selling a second gold medal to support his family.

The 47-year-old’s ambitions of competing at a seventh Olympics in Tokyo next year ended after heart failure left him in a Newcastle hospital.

According to New Idea, Diamond said he started noticing his health problems a month ago after suffering shortness of breath. An ultrasound at Gosford Hospital revealed that Diamond’s heart was functioning at just 15 per cent.

“It was bizarre and alarming,” Diamond told the magazine.

Doctors then told Diamond, who won gold at the 1996 Games in Atlanta and four years later in Sydney, he was in line for a heart transplant.

“I thought, ‘I’m too young for that’,” the father-of-three said.

“This is the greatest fight of my life … It’s a pretty sobering feeling to have your heart fail on you.

“I do want to hang around — I want to see my kids get older and get married and I want to have grandchildren.”

Separated from his wife Cathy, Diamond has three daughters and is selling his Atlanta gold medal to support them after selling his Sydney gold two years ago for $72,000.

Diamond’s career went off the rails in 2016 following an alleged domestic dispute and high-range drink-driving charge.

He was then convicted for firearms offences, which carried a ban from holding a gun licence so he missed the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Diamond successfully appealed against the conviction a year later. He felt the stress may have contributed to his heart issues.

“I was nervous and stressed out all the time,” Diamond said.

“I believe everything has snowballed to how I am feeling today.”

Diamond’s second trap shooting medal goes under the hammer on December 5 in Melbourne.

“I still have bills and I’ve still got to survive,” he said.

“I’ve got kids to worry about and I’m doing just that,”

Michael Diamond has previously stated that he is of Greek descent, with the shooting champion changing his surname in 1997 from Diamantopoulos to Diamond.

Sourced by: News.com.au

Martin and Vamvakinou spearhead Australia-Greek bilateral relations in Parliament

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Martin and Vamvakinou spearhead Australia-Greek bilateral relations in Parliament

In Parliament this week, Dr Fiona Martin MP, Federal Member for Reid, and Maria Vamvakinou MP, Federal Member for Calwell, came together to discuss their roles as Chair and Deputy Chair of the Australia-Greece Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Dr Martin, Chair, and Ms Vamvakinou, Deputy Chair of the Australia-Greece Parliamentary Friendship Group both said they look forward to continuing the longstanding bilateral relationship between Australia and Greece. Both MPs are delighted by the support from other Federal MPs and Senators who are wanting to be members of this group and look forward to officially launching the group in the 46th Parliament.

In her first term in parliament, Dr Martin is looking forward to representing her Greek heritage in Parliament. The Greek Australian Federal MP is the daughter of George Barbouttis who played for Pan Hellenic, now Sydney Olympic and was a member of the Socceroos squad in the early 70’s. Reid has a large Greek Australian community with strong ties to their Orthodox faith, Hellenic history and cultural heritage.

Ms Vamvakinou has been a long advocate for Australia-Greece bilateral relations in Federal Parliament, and has been Chair and Deputy Chair of this group in previous parliaments. She is also the first Greek born Federal Member of Parliament. Ms Vamvakinou was also the co-chair of the inaugural Greek Ministerial Consultative Committee under the Rudd-Gillard Government – a committee made up of prominent Greek Australians advising the government on issues affecting their community.

Olympiacos fail to hold onto 2 goal lead as Tottenham secure victory in Champions League match

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Olympiacos fail to hold onto 2 goal lead as Tottenham secure victory in Champions League match

Olympiacos have suffered a disastrous defeat against Premier League team Tottenham Hotspurs, failing to hold on to a two goal advantage earlier in the match.

Youssef El Arabi and Ruben Semedo scored inside 19 minutes for Olympiacos, signalling a great match to come for the Greek giants. However, that victory was short lived as Dele Alli and Harry Kane scored on either side of half-time to bring Spurs level. Serge Aurier and Harry Kane then helped Tottenham Hotspur into a 4-2 lead, crushing the Greek opposition.

Jose Mourinho, who won the tournament with Porto and Inter Milan, replaced the sacked Tottenham manage Mauricio Pochettino last week and won 3-2 at West Ham on Saturday, with this Champions League match against Olympiacos being the first of many for the new manager.

In a post-match interview, the Tottenham Hotspur manager has warned he wants no ghosts in Spurs’ next game after his watched his men start slowly in their 4-2 victory over Olympiacos.

“I expect them to start the next game without ghosts and open. We have to play better than that first half.”

With one match to go against FC Crvena Zvezda, Olympiacos will have to perform strong to finish third in their Champions’ League group B in order to secure a place in the Europa League. Olympiacos are currently on one point from five games, while FC Crvena Zvezda have three.

The loss to the Premier League team adds further tension to a team already under pressure,

As Olympiacos are tied for first with PAOK in the Greek Super League. Olympiacos will hope that this disappointing result does not impact future matches in the Greek league.

Greece raises priorities for digital technology investments

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Greece raises priorities for digital technology investments

The government plans to offer incentives for investments in digital technology as it seeks to accelerate the country’s transition to the digital era, Development and Investments Minister Adonis Georgiadis said on Monday while addressing the Digital Economy Forum 2019 in Athens, themed “Leading Greece to Growth”.

“Greece has significant advantages and most of all the incredible talent of its human resources that can spearhead a move toward a more creative Greece,” Georgiadis said.

He also presented initiatives that have already been made in this direction, such as the Thessin tech innovation park, Pfizer’s investment in Thessaloniki, as well as the first digital technology fair and the first innovation centre in Athens.

The minister announced that official delegations of US companies are to visit Athens in February to establish high-technology cooperation, and noted that interventions need to be made in the country’s education system to address the lack of computer engineers.

“We must break with the past,” he said.

Deputy Foreign Minister Kostas Fragogiannis, who is responsible for economic diplomacy and extroversion, told the forum that the government wants to change Greece’s image and get past the stereotypes.

He added that the government is currently establishing the position of scientific diplomat in Boston with the aim of bringing the Greek and US scientific communities closer together.

Sourced by: Ekatherimi.com

Greece sending help to Albania as death toll hits 21 following devastating quake

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Greece sending help to Albania as death toll hits 21 following devastating quake

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has recently ordered for search and rescue assistance to be dispatched to Albania, following a destructive earthquake in the early hours of the day that has claimed at least 21 lives and injured hundreds.

An EMAK disaster response team is traveling to the neighbouring country to help with search-and-rescue efforts in the most affected parts of the country, including the port town of Durres, where several buildings have reportedly collapsed.

Mitsotakis also spoke on the telephone with his Albanian counterpart, Edi Rama, expressing condolences over the loss of life and destruction caused by the 6.4-magnitude earthquake, which struck shortly before 4 a.m. local time, 30 kilometres northwest of the capital Tirana.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias also announced that he will be heading to Tirana within the day to help in any way he can, adding in a post on Twitter that he has already spoken with Citizens’ Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis to coordinate search-and-rescue efforts with the Albanian authorities.

According to a recent Ministry of Defense report, the death count has hit 21, with most of the casualties being in Durres and the town of Thumani, north of Tirana. In the neighbouring town of Kurbin, a 50-year-old man was killed when he jumped from the balcony of his home. Another man died in a road accident as the road receded due to the earthquake.

‘Yiayia Next Door’ support Carlton Football Club donation to violence against women foundation

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‘Yiayia Next Door’ support Carlton Football Club donation to violence against women foundation

Yesterday marked ‘International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women’.

Carlton Football Club made a donation of $10 000 to the Blues Foundation, with funds going toward the Carlton Respects Initiative, which was supported by ambassadors ‘Yiayia Next Door’.

The funding will go toward supporting the Club’s work in promoting gender equality and the prevention of violence against women.

Carlton Respects does this through education programs in schools, reaching over 4000 students, 13 workplaces and reaching over 1.5 people on social media.

‘Yiayia Next Door’ is an Instagram account set up by two Melbourne boys who have collected almost 76 000 followers, dedicated to their neighbour ‘yiayia’ who delivers them hearty Greek meals over the fence.

The boys behind ‘Yiayia Next Door’ and Carlton Football Club will be working closely in 2020 regarding several violence against women projects.

Olympiacos head coach “not afraid” of Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham ahead of Champions League clash

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Olympiacos head coach “not afraid” of Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham ahead of Champions League clash

In a recent press conference, Olympiacos head coach Pedro Martins insisted that his side are ready for the Champions League duel with Tottenham Hotspurs.

When asked about Jose Mourinho’s strong start following the teams’ sacking of head coach Mauricio Pochettino, the Olympiacos head coach commended the new managers experience but stated his team were ready for the matchup.

‘We are here to represent Olympiacos, we are well aware that Tottenham are a very strong team, we know how tough it will be,’ he said.

‘But it is Olympiacos versus Tottenham. Mourinho is an excellent manager, we respect him, but we are not afraid of him.’

Jose Mourinho brings with him to the match 148 games of Champions League experience, winning the cup with teams such as FC Porto and Inter Milan.

‘We know Jose Mourinho, but it is the first time we play against him as a Tottenham manager,’ he added.

‘We don’t know how he is going to set up his team, but at the same time he doesn’t know how we are going to set up.

‘Tomorrow is a very important game and after we are expecting a reaction of the players. We worked hard to get to the group stage of the Champions League and we will do our best.’

The two sides will face each other on November 27 at 7am AEST.

9 amendments to Greece’s constitution approved

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9 amendments to Greece’s constitution approved

The House of Representatives voted to revise the Constitution yesterday, with nine review proposals being approved.

The amendments were in relation to many pressing issues in Greece, including the presidential election procedure, voting rights for the Greek diaspora abroad, and a guaranteed annual income.

The approved amendments include the following:

1. Article 32, Paragraph 4: New Democracy’s proposed changes to the election process of the President of the Hellenic Republic, which mean that in the case of a deadlock, the need for consensus with other parties is no longer necessary. Essentially, the elected party can elect their own President without contribution from other parties.

The votes sat at 158 yes, 139 no and 0 present.

*It should be noted that there are 158 New Democracy MPs.

2. Article 54: It was also approved that Greeks living abroad will be able to vote in Greek elections if they are registered in Greece’s electoral rolls and have some kind of economic ties with Greece.

The votes sat at 212 yes, 84 no and 1 present.

3. Article 86: The law on ministerial responsibility, which upholds the rule of law to abolish special legal protection for MPs, including shorter statute of limitations.

The votes sat at 274 yes, 0 no and 23 present.

4. Article 62: An immunity limit was approved which grants immunity to MP’s under criminal or other prosecution while Parliament is in session.

The votes sat at 179 yes, 117 no and 1 present.

5. Article 68: This was in relation to the right to propose a parliamentary minority Inquiry Commission.

The votes sat at 189 yes, 84 no and 14 present.

6. Article 101a: To limit the election of members of Independent Authorities to 3/5 of the Conference of Presidents, instead of 4/5 as it is today.

The votes sat at 158 yes, 139 no and 0 present.

7. Article 73: The approval of the popular legislative initiative, which allows citizens to submit bills to be debated in Parliament.

The votes sat at 254 yes, 32 no and 11 present.

8. Article 21: concerned the constitutional guarantee of a minimum income for all Greek citizens.

The votes sat at 190 yes, 107 no and 0 present.

9. Article 96: was in regards to the special statues of the military courts.

The votes sat at 189 yes, 94 no and 14 present.

Heavy storms in Greece result in three deaths

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Heavy storms in Greece result in three deaths

Three people died in torrential rain and thunderstorms that caused widespread flooding and disrupted transport in Greece on Monday, officials said.

Yesterday it was reported that two men drained when their sailing boat sank in the town of Antirio.

Another women has now been found dead in her flooded home in Rhodes. It was reported the woman had a disability and had been bed-ridden for years, therefore unable to move as the storms flooded her home.

In a weather front which the Greek meteorological service has called Geryon or Geryones after a giant of Greek mythology, parts of the road network to the Peloponnese peninsula were cut off for hours because of flooding, police officials said.

In Kineta, a beach town west of the capital Athens, extensive damage was recorded to the road network from rockfalls from surrounding hills, with roads and gardens submerged in mud. The region suffered a major forest fire in 2018.

The storms first hit late on Sunday and the civil protection service had urged municipal authorities to be on alert.

The fire department received dozens of calls to pump water from premises while schools in the Athens region opened two hours late on Monday because of the weather.

Twenty-four people were killed when flash floods hit the town of Mandra west of Athens in Nov. 2017, and seven were killed in a freak storm in northern Greece in July 2019.

Sourced via Reuters.

Former head of Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in America charged

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Former head of Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in America charged

The former head administrator of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has been arrested on charges he embezzled over half a million dollars from the organisation.

Authorities say Jerry Dimitriou was charged Monday with wire fraud for allegedly directing subordinates to give him extra salary and charging hundreds of unauthorised personal expenses to the organisations credit card.

An attorney for Dimitriou says he looks forward to all facts coming to light.

Federal prosecutors said Dimitriou carried out the scheme while serving as the administrator from 2000 until late 2017.

If convicted, the 55-year-old Greenlawn, New York, resident could face up to 40 years in prison.

Dimitriou oversaw construction of a new church and Sept. 11 shrine at the World Trade Centre until the project ran out of money in 2017.

Sourced via The Washington Post

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