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Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink to get $17.7 million upgrade

The iconic Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink will get a major upgrade and restoration with the NSW Government executing a grant for $17.7 million to ensuring the training ground for many Australian Winter Olympians will remain for many decades to come.

Funded through the Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program, the Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink Roof and Amenities Upgrade Project will deliver:

  • a new roof structure,
  • new change rooms,
  • a concrete new modern ice floor and barrier system,
  • new skate hire facilities, and
  • upgraded spectator seating areas.

The Canterbury Ice Rink has served as the home for more than 20 Olympic ice skaters, including short track Olympic Gold medallist, Steven Bradbury, 2014 Ice Dance Olympians Danielle O’Brien and Greg Merriman, and Australia’s first indigenous Winter Olympics athlete, Harley Windsor.

The upgrades that are being undertaken will ensure this Western Sydney institution is one of the best ice rinks in Australia and provide the next generation of Olympic hopefuls with the facilities to fulfil their dreams.

Over 120,000 visitors per year are expected to utilise the facility.

The Government will now work with The Ice-Skating Club of New South Wales to deliver this much needed upgrade, with construction to commence in late-2024.

Member for Canterbury, Sophie Cotsis MP said “the project will deliver huge benefits, including local jobs, programs for local school students, as well as an inclusive skating program for skaters with intellectual and physical disabilities.”

“Since the closure of the facility, skaters from the area have been travelling hours across Sydney, even to Canberra of a weekend, to train. Come mid-2026 this will no longer be the case, with this wonderful facility back up-and-running in our own backyard,” Ms Cotsis added.

“This is huge win, a big congratulations to our community for this hard-fought achievement.”

NSW Minister for Sport, Steve Kamper added the state government was excited to restore the facility “so it can serve as a rink for the Canterbury community for many years to come.”

To find out more about The Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program visit the NSW Grants and Funding Infrastructure Program.

Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur end winless Premier League streak

Tottenham Hotspur coach Ange Postecoglou has locked in his first Premier League win since October, according to ABC News.

The Spurs defeated Newcastle United 4 – 1 on Sunday. Spurs had failed to record a win in five consecutive Premier League matches.

But this time, after Destiny Udogie tapped in his first goal for the club from captain Son Heung-min’s cutback after 26 minutes, they never looked back.

“I didn’t give the players much latitude for excuses [in the recent bad run], but in retrospect the reality of it is that we were decimated after the Chelsea game,” Mr Postecoglou said after the match.

“It’s no coincidence that we’ve got a few players back and we look stronger.

“Sonny [Son Heung-min] set the tone today I thought. He was really positive every time he got the ball and the other players fed off that energy.”

Source: ABC News.

18-year-old admits assault of police officer during volleyball clash

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In a startling turn of events, an 18-year-old confessed on Sunday to assaulting a 31-year-old police officer during a heated volleyball match between local rivals Olympiakos and Panathinaikos in Rentis, Piraeus, last Thursday night.

The 31-year-old police officer, who sustained severe injuries during the incident, is currently in critical condition at the General State Hospital of Nikaia, known as “Saint Panteleimon.”

Hailing from Ilio, Attica, the young man is identified as an organised fan of Olympiakos. Following the violent clashes with riot police outside the stadium, he was taken into custody along with 423 other suspects on Thursday.

Rentis Training Centre
The assault took place at the Rentis Training Centre in Piraeus, Athens. Photo: Newest.gr.

According to the 18-year-old’s admission, fans were allegedly signaled to exit the stadium and initiate an attack against the riot police. In a troubling revelation, he claimed that an older fan passed him a flare and demonstrated how to activate it.

The young man then threw the flare, witnessing it hit the ground before noticing a police officer kneeling. Subsequently, he re-entered the volleyball stadium and was apprehended along with the other suspects. 

In an unexpected twist, the 18-year-old’s father, speaking to state broadcaster ERT, expressed shock at his son’s involvement in the incident.

He stated that had he known about his son’s participation, he would have willingly testified to provide information about the incident in hopes of mitigating the sentence.

The father emphasised his son’s youth, mentioning that he is currently in school pursuing a career as a plumber and expressing disbelief that he could be involved in such actions.

Source: Ekathimerini.

Cyprus foils planned attacks against Israelis

In a recent development, two Iranian citizens were apprehended in Cyprus in November, suspected of orchestrating attacks against Israelis residing on the island.

The arrests were made following a joint operation by Cypriot authorities, and the individuals are currently under detention, facing deportation.

Sources suggest that the detained suspects were allegedly linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a claim that has raised concerns about potential security threats posed by such affiliations.

Authorities have issued a deportation warrant for the two individuals as investigations into their connections and motives continue.

This marks the third security incident in the past two years, placing Cyprus back in the spotlight for potential terrorist activities.

The first incident occurred two years ago, involving the arrest of an Azerbaijani citizen holding a Russian passport, suspected to be associated with the IRGC. The second incident unfolded in June of this year, thwarting a possible attack within Cypriot territory.

Cyprus, known for its close ties to Israel and a popular destination for thousands of Israeli tourists, has become a focal point for security concerns.

The proximity between the two countries, with a mere 40-minute flight connecting them, adds urgency to addressing potential threats and ensuring the safety of residents and visitors alike.

The detained individuals are now in Cypriot police custody, awaiting further legal proceedings. 

Source: Ekathimerini.

Greek swimmer Anna Doudounaki crowned European champion

The Greek swimmer Anna Doudounaki has made history after coming in first place in butterfly at the European 25-metre pool Championship.

Ekathimerini reported that the 28-year-old champion won a gold medal in her 50-metre butterfly race, which she completed in 25.10 seconds.

The race took place on Sunday in Otopeni, Romania.

This announcement came one day after Anna received bronze in the 100 meter butterfly race in the same competition. It marks her second European gold, following her previous win of gold in 2020 in Budapest.

Source: Ekathimerini.

Greek-owned Compton Burgers shop in WA celebrates hip hop legends

Compton Burgers shop in Perth, Western Australia is owned by brothers Michael and Andrew Theo, and they have had the incredible opportunity to meet and collaborate with some of the biggest names in hip hop.

This experience left a lasting impression on the brothers, who were not only amazed by the artists’ immense talent but also touched by their genuine kindness.

One of the highlights of their journey was meeting the renowned hip hop artist Coolio. To their surprise and delight, Coolio even wore their shop’s shirt on stage, creating a truly special moment for everyone involved.

Another notable artist, Jack Harlow, also visited the burger shop and enjoyed one of their signature burgers. The brothers were thrilled to have these remarkable individuals represented with burgers on their menu.

But it didn’t end there. Onyx 100, known for their collaborations with Tiny Jackal, Fredro Star, and Sticky Fingers, also made a lasting impression on Andrew and Michael. They were honoured to have a beat featured in Eminem’s “8 Mile,” showcasing their immense talent and influence in the hip hop world.

Tiny Jackal, the Greek rapper, even travelled all the way from Greece to collaborate with the brothers, infusing a unique Greek flavour into their beatbox session and rapping in Greek for Coolio.

Henry Kissinger and his controversial link to Greece and Cyprus

Throughout history, Henry Kissinger has been recognised as the most powerful American secretary of state who ultimately shaped US history during the cold war. However, for many he was the most controversial figure for Greece and the Greek diaspora.

Largely blamed for the attitude of the US and NATO towards the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, Kissinger effectively allowed for the Turkish invasion to occur without international opposition.

Henry Kissinger. Photo: Aljazeera.

This tactic, lead to a powerful surge by the Greek diaspora to consider the term anti-Americanism. A clear example is where approximately 30,000 diaspora Greeks staged a protest outside of the White House on August 18th, 1974, with the slogan ‘Kill Kissinger’.

In a supposed statement made by Kissinger in 1994, it is alleged that he said that the Greek people were anarchic and difficult to tame and for this reason it is important to strike the Greeks cultural roots.

Whilst this statement has often been denied, it is clearly observed that the aim was to attack the Greek diaspora and ultimately neutralise their influence in the wake of the invasion.

Source: Ekathimerini.

Plaque unveiling at Greek Community Home for the Aged honours the late Michael Galanakis

A plaque in honour of the late Michael Galanakis was unveiled at the Greek Community Home for the Aged in Earlwood, Sydney on Thursday, December 7.

Mr Galanakis, a migrant from the Greek island of Crete, passed away on November 29, 2019 in Sydney at the age of 92.

greek community home for the agead michael galanakis
All photos copyright The Greek Herald.
greek community home for the agead michael galanakis

The plaque honoured Mr Galanakis after he bequeathed in his will a significant amount of funds to the Earlwood aged care home, which is run by the Greek Orthodox Community of New South Wales (GOCNSW).

greek community home for the agead michael galanakis

During the unveiling ceremony on Thursday, the GOCNSW President Harry Danalis explained how he had been working closely for the past two years with lawyer and Chairman at St Basil’s NSW / ACT, James Jordan, to interpret Mr Galanakis’ will and execute his wishes.

greek community home for the agead michael galanakis
greek community home for the aged michael galanakis

Ultimately, it was decided that some of Mr Galanakis’ assets would be given to his family, whilst the remainder would be donated to the Greek Community Home for the Aged to improve its services and facilities.

In his speech, Mr Jordan said whilst the legal situation was “very difficult” there was a “good conclusion.”

“We, the Greek community here in Sydney, aren’t used to making bequests. This gentleman from Crete, came out in the 50s, uneducated, thought it was a good thing to make a bequest to a community group,” Mr Jordan explained, while encouraging others to consider supporting aged care homes as well.

After the unveiling, the plaque will remain on display at the Greek Community Home for the Aged.

Peter Mousaferiadis’ Diversity Atlas shines on the world stage

Cultural Infusion’s CEO Peter Mousaferiadis presented the company’s innovation Diversity Atlas on November 30 at Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) 12th annual re:Invent conference, attended by 65,000 cloud professionals, enthusiasts and experts in Las Vegas, as part of the first-ever AWS Inclusion Playbook launch.

Diversity Atlas has a key role in AWS’s inclusion strategies and is featured in the Playbook, accompanied by the following statement: “AWS uses Diversity Atlas to enhance our data collection outside the U.S, particularly self-identification and inclusion.” 

Peter Mousaferiadis said, “This is the culmination of work I commenced in the diversity and inclusion space in 1988 and this work is not possible without bringing together a range of disciplines spanning a range of disciplines, decades of work centring culture with diverse cultural communities and the computing power of state-of-the-art technology made available to us by AWS. We will be sharing many more exciting developments with the global community in the coming months.”

Diversity Atlas.

Launched at the 2019 Dialogue of Civilizations (DOC) Rhodes Forum in Greece, Diversity Atlas is the world’s most inclusive cultural diversity and experience mapping platform, equipping organisations to realise the social and economic value of diverse workforces and greater inclusion. It offers organisations a more engaging and sustainable, data-driven approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The product of more than seven years of scientific and community R&D and underpinned by its Global Database of Humanity, Diversity Atlas gives organisations a nuanced, multifactorial understanding of their workforce’s rich cultural diversity and experiences. This ensures that each individual is acknowledged in all their multidimensional aspects. 

Diversity Atlas is aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and has been adopted by leading multinationals and organisations across the world, including supply-chain firm PSA BDP, global technology company Automatic Data Processing Inc (ADP), Amazon Web Services (AWS), Global Victoria, the Perth Festival and many others.  

Peter Mousaferiadis is the visionary Founder and CEO of cultural enterprise Cultural Infusion (est. 2002 in Melbourne). Mr Mousaferiadis has a background in music, as a conductor and creative director. He is the winner of more than 15 international awards for his work, including the United Nations Intercultural Innovation Award, Global Business and Intercultural Peace Award. His lifelong passion has been to embrace diverse cultural expressions as a path to peace and prosperity. In 2013, he coined the winning slogan “Diversified We Grow” for the UNAOC ‘Do One Thing for Diversity’ campaign. 

The AWS 2023 Inclusion Playbook can be downloaded here for free. Get your copy today and find out why AWS chose Diversity Atlas to be the first step in their journey to accelerating inclusive experiences for employees, customers and communities. 

Maria Vamvakinou MP nominated for Crikey Person of the Year

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Labor’s Federal Member for Calwell, Maria Vamvakinou has been nominated for Crikey Person of the Year in recognition of her courage during a press conference regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict on Thursday, 16 November.

Crikey praised Ms Vamvakinou alongside other nominees for what they say took “a great deal of courage” in making their stance alongside the Greens in announcing their support for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The Labor member for Calwell, Maria Vamvakinou. Photo Mick Tsikas AAP
The Labor member for Calwell, Maria Vamvakinou. Photo: Mick Tsikas / AAP.

The petition that garnered over 40,000 signatures, was promoted by Ms Vamvakinou at the press conference as she stood by Greens party members, as well as medical professionals, calling on the Australian Parliament for support.

People can vote here for their Crikey Person of the Year.

Source: Crikey