Deputy Sports Minister Vroutsis Praises Successful Final Four in Athens, Addresses Ticket Concerns
Athens, May 25 – Deputy Sports Minister Giannis Vroutsis spoke on Monday morning about the successful organization of the Final Four in Athens, the progress of sports infrastructure, and the digital registration of Greek sports. He described the country’s international image as “very positive.”
Vroutsis emphasized that hosting the event was not a given but the result of a concerted effort: “We claimed it, it wasn’t handed to us.” He underlined that the implementation was “crowned with success,” showcasing Greece’s ability to host major international events.
“Congratulations to Olympiacos, to the players, to the team, to the Angelopoulos brothers, to the entire team, to the coach. Because it is truly a huge success for Olympiacos,” Vroutsis noted, adding that it is equally significant for Greek basketball and Greek sports in general.
“We showed that Greek basketball remains high at a global level,” he stated, making special mention of the OAKA stadium’s image, stressing that its upgrade earned “global accolades.”
Addressing Ticket Complaints
Regarding fan complaints about ticket issues, Vroutsis clarified that this was a matter for the organizing authority: “It was purely Euroleague’s responsibility; we had no involvement,” though he acknowledged that there might have been “shortcomings.”
The minister also presented an extensive program of works, noting that over 500 sports projects are currently underway across the country. Among these:
- Upgrading of the SEF (Peace and Friendship Stadium) with an investment of 25 million euros.
- Creation of a new swimming pool for Amateur Olympiacos with an additional 25 million euros.
- Interventions in 21 swimming pools nationwide.
- Upgrading facilities such as Kaftanzoglio and projects in Larissa and Crete.
He mentioned that the average completion time for such projects is estimated at approximately 1.5 years, provided there are no complications.
Digital Leap with the “Kouros” Platform
The minister placed particular emphasis on the “Kouros” platform, which he described as the “Ergani of sports” and unique in Europe. Through the platform, he stated:
- Over 432,000 athletes are registered.
- More than 6,400 clubs are operating.
- Over 20,000 coaches have been registered.
“There is no longer a single ‘stamp club’,” he asserted, noting that the data is available to municipalities and regions for policy planning.
Stating that Greek sports recorded a 4.03% increase compared to the previous year, the minister noted that open issues remain for Super League and women’s volleyball. Regarding a possible restructuring of the Super League, he clarified that there is no official information or request to the ministry.
As for women’s volleyball, he stated that there is an intention for it to become professional, but no common proposal has been submitted by the involved parties: “I wish it would happen, but no one responded to our call,” he characteristically said.
Source: https://www.newsbeast.gr/politiki/arthro/13121667/vroutsis-epitychimeno-to-final-four-stin-athina-axizoun-sygcharitiria-ston-olybiako-den-ebleketai-i-kyvernisi-me-ta-eisitiria
