Panhellenic Games in doubt

The Panhellenic Games organised by the Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) Oceania and Far East planned to be held in Melbourne in November may be cancelled.

According to sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity the reason for the impending cancellation is the lack of funds.

The Games were scheduled to take place on November 27, 28 and 29 and they have been postponed once already.

Originally they were scheduled to be held earlier this year. It seems that the Greek government is unwilling to cover part of the games’ organising costs.

SAE Oceania had announced in late March that it would finance the Games for up to $50,000 from it’s operating budget, but this funding is now in question.

Neos Kosmos English Edition (NKEE) sources have suggested that the Opposition in Greece, PASOK has raised objections over the diversion of SAE’s operating funds towards the Games.

PASOK is arguing that the funding for the Games should come directly from the Greek government. ]

But talks between officials of SAE and the Greek government have failed to produce any outcomes.

A fortnight ago the President of World SAE, Stephanos Tamvakis met with the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Theodoros Kassimis regarding the issue.

Apparently the meeting was not fruitful with the Greek government using the global financial crisis as an excuse to not provide funding.

SAE is now directing its efforts to securing funding from a Greek non-governmental organisation, with the Onassis Foundation rumoured as the most possible candidate.

Serious questions, however, have been raised with the announcement by SAE Oceania in late March that it would cover part of the cost.

It now appears that SAE is using the PASOK objections of local SAE organisations using their funds to support the games, in order to avoid fulfilling that commitment.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that the problem of funding from the Greek government may also be tied to SAE’s falling out with the government on the issue of the legislation regarding the right of the Greeks abroad to vote.

The legislation that was introduced recently by the Karamanlis government only to be defeated by the Opposition parties.

SAE had originally objected to the legislation being introduced since it did not include one of their main recommendations.

SAE had asked for representatives of Greeks abroad to beelected to the Greek parliament.

After government pressure SAE supported the legislation in principle, only to murmur it’s concerns.