Greek politicians “steal” the Torch from Olympic Games Winners

Pictures of Greek politicians carrying the Olympic torch have caused an uproar not only because it is against the torch relay guidelines of the Greek Olympic games Committee but also because Olympic Games winners were excluded from the process.

Guidelines of the Greek Olympic Games Committee clearly states that political and religious personalities are prohibited from participating in the torch relay.

Labor Minister Domna Michailidou ran with the Olympic torch on Sunday night and was pictured with a bright smile. On the same wavelength, also European Commission vice-president, Margaritis Schinas, jumped into his sport shoes and run 100 meters for the sake of picture.

The participation of Michailidou and  Schinas caused an uproar as the Greek Torch Relay Committee expressly forbids the participation of political and religious figures in the torch relay.

The ban aims to prohibit especially politicians to exploit the global event for their own promotion. An event  that receives a lot of publicity from the entire domestic and foreign press.

While the Labor Minister and the Commission Vise run carrying the Olympic torch smiling bright to each and every camera they saw, Olympic Games winners were excluded from the torch relay.

At the same time that the Minister of Labor and the Vice-President of the Commission were photographed smiling with the torch, Olympians such as Nicoleta Kyriakopoulou, complained that they were excluded from the torch relay.

Greek athletes complain

Several of  Greek athletes complained with posts on social media, while  member of the Greek Torch relay Committee, rhythmic gymnast and bronze medal winner at 2000 Summer Olympics in  Sydney, Eirini Aindili resigned over what it seems to be a scandal.

Contacted by media, Aindili confirmed her resignation, however, she refrained from making a statement reportedly out of respect for the torch relay process that is still ongoing in the country.

Athletes such as Nikos Syranidis, gold medal in diving in Athens 2004,                  swimmer Mania Bikof and Nicol kyriakopoulou are among those who complained about their exclusion from the torch relay.

Pole vaulter Nicoleta Kyriakopoulou, 8th at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021 and bronze medal winner at the World Championships in Beijing in 2015 wrote on Facebook:

“The power of the Olympic flame inspires fans and athletes around the world. The highest honor to be carried by the torchbearers… that “strangely” this Olympic year the “lottery”… to participate, failed to locate me despite my humble sports resume! »

Committee guidelines for the torch relay

According to the general instructions issued by the Greek Olympic Committee, honored as torchbearers are:

• • Olympic Games winners
• • Those distinguished in Sports in order of priority of distinction (such as
  World – European – Panhellenic Championships etc.)
• • Those distinguished in Arts, Letters and Social contribution.
• • Athletes or persons with disabilities.

Prohibited from participating in the torch relay process are political and religious persons, stating that:

“Political persons mean Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Deputy Ministers, General Secretaries of Ministries, Members of Parliament, Regional Governors, Deputy Regional Governors, Regional Councillors, Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Municipal Councillors”.

Worth noting that in some regions, also mayors participated as torchbearers , media reported.

So far, there has been no reaction either the the Torch Relay Committee nor by the Olympic Games Committee.

While someone may have to apply to participate as a torchbearer, however, there have been also cases where people (athletes and non-athletes) have been selected without having to submit an application,as they participated after being selected by the Greek Olympic Committee, reported topontiki.gr.

It must be certainly a pure coincidence that one member of the TRC is on ruling New Democracy list of candidates for the European elections.

… and there goes the essence of the Olympic flame, the torch and the spirit under the political intervention.

BTW: EUC Vice Shinas is an avid torchbearer as a picture from 2020 shows.