Hellenic Weightlifting Federation
Prime Minister Kostas Simitis visited the “Home of Weightlifting” in Nikea. He was greeted by the president of the “Athens 2004” Olympic Organizing Committee Mrs Gianna Angelopoulou and by many other government officials headed by the minister of Culture Mr. Evangelos Venizelos. Honouring the event by their presence was the President of IWF Mr. Agian as well as the entire National Weightlifting team headed by the President of the Weightlifting Federation and IWF General Secretary Mr. Giannis Sgouros, the Head Coach Mr. Christos Iakovou as well as our Olympians Pyrros Dimas, Valerios Leonidis, Kahi Kahiasvili, Leonidas Sambanis, Giorgos Tzelilis, Victoras Mitrou and Leonidas Kokka.
Also present where many leading Sports figures such as our Olympic Champion Katerina Thanou, her coach Christos Tzekos, our Olympian Michalis Mouroutsos, the Basketball legends Panagiotis Giannakis and Argyris Kambouris as well as the European Beach Volley Champions Efi Sfiri and Vaso Karantasiou.
In his speech the Prime Minister emphasised his satisfaction to the fact that the construction is ahead of the schedule set by the 2004 Olympic timetable.”The Nikea Olympic Gymnasium was designed to host the Weightlifting event, a sports which has won many titles for our Greece and which has touched the soul of every Greek. This Gymnasium, which is being built in Nikea, in coordination with the Athens 2004 Olympic Organizing committee is ahead of schedule and is a piece of proof in our commitment in finishing all construction related to the Olympics on time”
The Prime Minister also emphasised the fact that this gym will in reality will be a training center with dormitories, medical units, a press room and it will be fully accessible to the handicapped and closed his speech with revealing the subway expansion plans, by the year 2010, starting from Egaleo to Piraeus through Haidari, Agia Varvara, Korydallo, Nikea and Keratsini.
The next speaker was the President of the 2004 Organising Commitee Mrs Gianna Angelopoulou who, within other, stated: “Mr. Prime Minister, this is the third time I am visiting this site. The first time it was an abounded quarry, the second time construction had just started and I was told not to worry and that everything would be ok… Now I have to congratulate them. We are doing very well. We are on schedule and this is something that said not only by us but also from the people that watch over us closely. I am also touched by the presence of those who have brought tears to my eyes. Christos, Pyrros, Giannis and the other athletes who I am sure will make us cry again by doing the best in the 2004 Olympics”
The Minister of Culture Mr. Evangelos Venizelos stated that the “Home of Weightlifting” would finish on schedule, by May 2003 and that the cost would reach 13 billion Drachmae around 40 million Euros.
The President of the Weightlifting Federation and IWF General Secretary Mr. Giannis Sgouros pointed out that this “palace” would not only be the home of those who made Greeks believe that they are strong but of all Greek citizens who will believe in the steady progress of our country and you would feel sure of his future. He closed his speech by saying:”We are fortunate to live in an era of many changes. Weightlifting with Track and Field are improving rapidly, in higher levels and are dynamically moving towards our major target which is the Athens 2004 Olympics a dream come true”.
Closing the ceremony and surrounded by the National Team, the Coach of the Greek Weightlifting Dream Team Mr. Christos Iakovou said: “We worked very hard for many years and gave our soul to this sport but we never expected such a great facility. We thank all of you for making this dream come true. In the mean time our team which will be try its best, as you did, so that we may be victorious and win medals in here. Again, thank you very much”.