Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-09-05

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From: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: antenna@compulink.gr

News in English, 05/09/97

TITLES

• Greek and italian bid committee members and Athletic officials give their opinions on the five candidate cities
• The Turkish vice-president makes some provocative statements regarding the Cypriot government
• And, the largest fossilized elephant tusks in Europe turn up in Northern Greece

OLYMPICS

As rumours of widespread bribe-taking continued to circuate in the Swiss town of Lausanne, even though IOC officials accepted the explanations provided by Stockholm and Cape Town.

Greek and Italian bid committee members and athletic officials gave their opinions on the five competing cities, in what some regard as the most unpredicable race in years.

Primo Nebiolo, the powerful president of the International Amateur Athletics Federation or IAAF, in meeting with Vangelis Sav-rAmis, president of Athen's 97 committee, which organized this year's World Track and Field Championships, wished Greece every success in its effort to host the 2004 Olympics.

Speaking with Antenna, Nebiolo said, "I can't say which of the five bidding cities is the best. All five are good. Whichever wins, we will shake its hand with respect, esteem and love".

When asked about Rome's candidacy, the IAAF President and the Italian bid committee uniformly agreed, "We are a very united and compact group. Our power is our unity. If we win, no one person will have the glory of victory. And if we loose, no one will be considered personally responsible for the defeat".

The difficultly of the battle in deciding which city will win, was poignantly reflected in a recent statement by Rome's mayor, Francesco RoutEli. He said that it was easier for him to win one million votes in his country's municipal elections than to get the magic number of "54" votes required to win the candidacy.

Voting by secret ballot. The winning city must have absolute majority of 54 votes. If no majority in the first round, the city with the least votes is eliminated and voting goes into second round.

This can continue for four rounds, when only two cities remain. Full details of the number of ballots cast for each city are released only after the announcement of a winner.

During his interview with Antenna, Routelli said that Rome and Athens are two cities-sisters. When asked to expound on his city's advantages, he said, "Rome's bid is politically supported by nearly all of Italy's parties". Adding that, "most athletic installations are ready and we have a particular knack for organizing sports. We also love athletism as well as the olympic spirit, which of course we learned from you Greeks. It has just been rebaptised in the Tiberis river".

Manolis Katsiadakis, vice-president of Greece's national Olympic committee says, "Things would be a lot easier for Athens, if in the last round of the voting procedure, two European cities were competing against one another.

Asked as to whether Greeks should smile one day before voting takes place, Lambis Niko-laou, President of the Greek Olympic committee, and an IOC member said, "WE will smile on Friday". Subtly calling to mind the two bidding cities of Stockholm and Cape Town who were reprimanded when accusations began to fly about the possibility of their trying to bribe IOC members.

Mario Pescante, secretary general of the Italian bid committee defended the two cities saying, "I don't give any great importance to the issue. It was venial sin, as we Catholics say. They were mistakes nothing more".

Yiannis Yiannakis, alternate general director of the Athens' bid committee proudly said, "all of the 78 bid committee members worked hard to convince the IOC that Athens truly wants and can hold the 2004 Olympics.

Many of Greece's Olympic winners are in Lausanne, offering their support. Olympic gold wind-surfing champion Nikos Kakla-manAkis will speak in favour of the Greek candidacy before IOC members.

Being an honorary IOC member, former King Constantine is also in Lausanne. He is helping Greece in its effort to host the games.

Dimitris Avraamopoulos, Athens mayor left Thursday for Lausanne. Speaking with Antenna he said "I am leaving Athens with optimism. "The Greek capital has made a reliable and persuasive presentation, showing off Athens' readiness and ability to host the 2004 Olympics".

When asked about Athen's chances of winning the competition he said, "If we are judged objectively as described in the IOC guide, then I have no doubt, we WILL take the 2004 Olympics".

Asked about the candidacies of other cities he refused to comment saying, "During the procedures, followed by the presentation of the Athen's bid, we intentionally avoided any reference to other cities. We intend to maintain that stance until voting is over and the winning city announced".

When questioned about the alleged cases of bribery from Cape Town and Stockholm, Avra-mopoulos said, "This does not directly concern us. Athens firmly followed the IOC rules".

Andreas Fouras, the Sports minister was optimistic about Athens' chances of winning the competition. He did add though that, "although Greece has worked hard, methodically and systematically, NOBODY can make safe predictions on the final result".

The Athenian bid is based on five factors: Good athletic facilities, the new image of the Greek capital, complete with metro and new international airport, strong local support of the Greek people and the sentimental returning to the birthplace of the modern Olympics.

The five cities bidding for the 2004 Olympics are; Athens, Rome, Buenos Aires, Cape Town and Stockholm.

OLYMPICS - CAPE TOWN

Capetown bid committee officials have written a letter apologizing to IOC rules committee members after allegations surfaced that they had offered to pay first class tickets for spouses of African IOC members traveling to Lausanne.

Nelson Mandela, president of South Africa arrived in Lausanne Thursday in a high-profile campaign designed to swing votes in favor of Cape Town as the next organizers of the games.

Speaking with reporters, Mandela said, "The Olympics have been held on all continents except Africa and South America. Everyone must see the reality. Africa has changed and now has the opportunity to organize the 2004 Olympics".

The President added that, "We have a strong case. The decision li Hes not with us but with the IOC. I hope that they will look at our case from the point of view of its strengths.

The South African bid committee hopes that Mandela's international standing will win over last-minute votes from undecided IOC members.

Long an international sports outcast 4;2H7mÔÝëïòmC7måêôýðùóçò.m in the apartheid era, South Africa hopes that sentiment and political symbolism will convince the IOC to award the games to Africa for the first time.

Weighing against Cape Town are fears about the high crime rate and political uncertainties about what will happen after Mandela leaves power.

CYPRUS

Ecevit made the provocative statements in an interview with the Turkish daily, 'The Milliyet' on Thursday.

In the interview the vice-president says, "Greek Cypriots are making plans to regain the northern part of the divided Mediterranean island". Adding that, "With the support they are getting from Greece and the European Union, the Greek Cypriots want to reclaim the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. They are amassing weapons for this goal".

Ecevit who was prime minister of Turkey in 1974 ordered the invasion of Cyprus sending in 30,000 Turkish troops to occupy the Northern part of the island.

The Turkish Cypriot state declared since then has only been recognized by Ankara. Continuing the interview Ecevit added, "But Turkey will take the necessary measures. If the purchasing continues, the partial annexation of Turkish-Cypriot occupied territory to Turkey will result, which is practically the case today".

Turkey has denounced the purchase of Russian-made surface to air milliles by the Greek Cypriot side, threatening to strike them if the weapons are deployed.

The Cypriot government facing growing Turkish belligerence, acquired the S- 300 anti-aircraft missiles for defense purposes.

The missiles, encompasing a 100-mile range, will strengthen Free Cyprus's air shield against a possible Turkish attack.

Speaking from Nicosia, Cyprus, Defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos says that,"If Turkey attacks the S- 300 missiles, then the principle of ''casus belli'' will immediately be put into effect. In other words the intentional Turkish attack on the S-300 missiles will be considered a cause for war.

Tomas Miller, US special envoy to Cyprus, will start touring Cyprus, Greece, Turkey as well as some european capitals on Monday. His visits are considered to be the first preliminary move in the intense US effort to promote bilateral talks on the Cyprus issue.

INMATE

An eighteen year old student managed to pass the all to tough university exams from his prison cell.

Two and a half years ago, 15 year old Tassos Papadopoulos murdered his parents in cold blood. Since then he has been living in the Korydalos prison for minors.

It seems that Tassos never forgot his dream to enter the university, and more specifically the mineralogy section of the Athens polytechnic school.

After a year of intense lessons with a teacher at an unspecified location outside the prison, Tassos successfully passed the exams.

Fellow inmates and staff working in the prison encouraged him in his efforts to make his dream come true.

It seems the budding mineralogist wont't stop there. He is now studying for next year's entry exams into the Engineering Department.

Tassos has set an example for his fellow inmates, encouraging them to follow along his lines. He presently tutors mathematics to another inmate, helping him to pass his classes at school.

The penal code for minors, states that they have the right to pass national school exams, enter university and to normally attend lessons on their own.

ELEPHANTS

Scientists at the University of Thessaloniki say the fossilized tusks date back over a million years.

The tusks are estimated to belong to an elephant weighing ten tons and standing 3 feet high.

The fossilized tusks are approximately 15 feet long and weigh about one thousand pounds each.

Excavations into the larger region of Gre-venA are being conducted in the search for more tusks.

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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