The Pan Hellenic Games originally planned to take place in Melbourne in February 2009 have been rescheduled for November 27-29, 2009.

The dates were decided at the national meeting of the SAE Oceania and the Far East in Sydney on March 29-30.

Planning for the Games is proceeding although funding has not yet been finalised.

Dimitrios Kanellakos, secretary of SAE Oceania and head of the Pan Hellenic Games Committee said ‘”Now that the dates have been finalised, we can go ahead and start looking for accommodation, sporting grounds and organise the various activities,” he said. “So far the Aquatic Stadium is the first option for a stadium. We hope to finalise this as soon as possible.”

While the Victorian chapter of SAE has the responsibility for organising the games in Victoria, the lines of communication between the national office of SAE Oceania and the local organisers do not appear to be working well.

Although Neos Kosmos English Edition was sent a press release announcing the dates on Tuesday, members of the local organising committee were not informed until Wednesday night.

Funding for the Games is currently being negotiated.

The organisers of the games in Victoria were not successful in securing funds from the Greek Government but have secured $50,000 funding from SAE Oceania.

Whether the cultural program which was originally envisaged for the Games will proceed depends on the financial support the organisers are able to gain from government and the Greek community, according to organising committee spokesperson Helen Kaliminou.

“The cultural games may not go ahead as proposed if funding is not forthcoming,” she says.

“But we are hoping to secure support and sponsorship from the Greek community as a whole, from the government and the Victorian Multicultural Commission (who we have applied to for funding).”

Of support from the Greek Government, she said, “At this stage we are getting some assistance but not monetary.”

Organising committee members will meet with James Merlino, Minister for Sport, Recreation, Youth Affairs this week to inform him of the event and seek further support.

The Pan Hellenic Games, a mini version of the Olympic Games for young Greeks, aims to unite Hellenes from throughout Oceania in the spirit of friendly sporting competition (state vs state).

The games have previously been  held in Sydney and in Adelaide.