Although according to the calendar we are experiencing the last days of summer, in Greek sports we have … spring. The successes of our champions at the European Athletics, Aquatics, Rowing and Gymnastics Championships put the blue and whites on a pedestal, reminiscent of the era before 2004. Her 2nd gold medal Antigonis Drysbiotis on the march her gold medals Elina Jango in the javelin and his Lefteri Petrunia in the links they have completed the puzzle and thrown “gold dust” into some of the issues that perpetuate.

Two years after K’s revealing report about the conditions under which the reigning European javelin champion trains, nothing has changed on Kallikratia’s field. Her prolific coach, Giorgos Botskariov, he still works at a construction site to feed his family and “fix” everything that breaks in the training room. “We were promised that work would begin. The municipality and the sports organization are responsible for this. I understand that the stadium is late. But I would like my broken tartan to be fixed. How hard is it to make tartan? If this is the case, I should stop training athletes, work overtime at a construction site and donate it,” says the Munich-based coach to “K”.

There is no joy in his voice from the gold medal of his athlete. Only disappointment. “This is not the first time that one of the children of A.S. The centaur stands out. We have medals and successes in ten international competitions. We get promises, but unfortunately this is how Greece works. I have been unemployed for three years. This year, SEGAS raised my salary, and I am grateful to them. I have no claims against the federation, but the family will not live on this money, ”he emphasizes, and when we tell him that as a coach he will receive a bonus from the state, he tells us:“ Let them keep the bonus and give me a permanent job, so that I can play sports undividedly. I am a gymnast.”

Giorgos Botskariyev played polo at the Apollon Kalamaria club, and at the university he was engaged in shot put. After university, he worked in the sports program of the current municipality of Nea Propontida Chalkidiki and gradually created a club, initially with four children. Today there are more than 200 of them and among champions such as Dzhengo, Dragomirova, Mouzenidis and others.

Weight in the Greek region

Athletes who have lifted Greek Athletics to 4th place in Europe, excluding Katerina Stephanides, originally from the Greek province. These are children who have trained or are training in areas such as Nea Kallikratia. Coaches like Giorgos Botskariov did other work in the morning and coached the next generation in the afternoon. “Greek sport relies on volunteers. It is also supported by designated gymnasts who are seconded, but when they retire there is no replacement. I, with four children, don’t know when it will be my turn to be nominated. I try to do my job and stay in this area for as long as I can. I would like to ask the authorities to pay attention to sports in the Greek province. Most of the athletes we applaud today came from the countryside and trained under appalling conditions. If we improve the conditions, there will be other champions.”