Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-11-19

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Parliament honours Olympic Games medallists

[01] Parliament honours Olympic Games medallists

Karamanlis said that Parliament was dedicating the event to the young men and women who honoured the country in Beijing.

"We honour our Olympic Games medallists, those who achieved distinctions, we honour those who participated in the Games. Women athletes and men athletes of Greece we thank you. We thank your families who inspired you and who stood by you, your coaches and your clubs, all those who support your great personal struggle," he said.

"From ancient times, the position and the value held by sport in human societies was suited with culture and their historical development. It was the symbol of faith in the struggle for the better, the superior, the more perfect, a symbol of persistence in achieving specific lofty and difficult targets," the prime minister added.

The Olympic Games medallists were welcomed by Parliament President Dimitris Sioufas, who said that Parliament, expressing the Greek people in their entirety, honours the athletes who honoured Greece, sport, culture and who honoured "fair play."

The athletes were congratulated on behalf of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and Secretary General Aleka Papariga by Parliamentary representative Spyros Halvatzis, who wished them "new victories in the Olympic Games venues, as well as in the field of life."

Athanasios Leventis, speaking on behalf of the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) and Parliamentary group leader Alekos Alavanos, congratulated the athletes for their effort and for their successes, saying that their path was not strewn with rose petals but developed under conditions of great competition and of the commercialisation of sport.

Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) party leader George Karatzaferis expressed his gratitude to the Greek Olympic Games medallists because, as he said, they offer the country medals every four years when it has not received Nobel prizes and oscars for over 40 years. He also proposed that a hall in Parliament be named "Greek Olympic Games Medallists Hall" and be adorned with the portraits of those giving the country Olympic Games medals.

Thanking Parliament for the honour on behalf of the Olympic Games medallists, Sofia Bekatorou said that the government recognised their sacrifices, their devotion to Olympic ideals and the value they give to "fair play."

"We Greek Olympic Games medallists desire noble effort and the pure struggle to be given value again and the athlete to receive sincere congratulations for his effort," she said.

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