Greek Olympic team to complete its preparation for Sydney Olympics in Perth

16/3/99
The Greek Olympic team is expected to complete its preparation for the 2000 Sydney Olympics in Perth.
It will also be part of a planned Festival of Sport in Western Australia in the lead-up to the Olympics.
Sport and Recreation Minister Norman Moore made the announcement today on his return to WA after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Comite Olympique Hellenique in Athens.
The Minister said that the Memorandum of Understanding set out the framework under which the Greek Olympic team would come to Perth.
It also provided for the exchange of sporting information and expertise aimed at improving sport, sports coaching and administration in the two countries.
About 180 members of the Greek Olympic team were expected to be in WA for up to 10 days in August, 2000, as part of their final preparation for Sydney.
Mr Moore said that the Memorandum of Understanding was the first step in a plan aimed at WA hosting a Festival of Sport involving the Greek and other Olympic teams.
Negotiations were well under way with teams from Yugoslavia, Spain, Korea and Italy to also train and play exhibition games in Perth. Australian teams have also been invited to participate.
Mr Moore said the negotiations and agreements reached so far were subject to teams qualifying for the Sydney Olympics.
The sports and countries which will be involved in the Festival of Sport include:

• Football: The Perth Glory have agreed to play the Greek Olympic team if they qualify. Negotiations are continuing with the French and Italian teams to play here as well;

• Volleyball: The Italian men's team (current world champions), Yugoslavia, Korea, Spain, Greece and Australia all have agreed in principle to take part in a special international tournament;

• Hockey: The Spanish and Korean men's teams have agreed to prepare in Perth, subject to their qualification, and play in a tournament involving Australia and one other nation.

• Australia, the women's hockey gold medallists, will prepare in Perth between August 25 and September 8, 2000, and Spain is one of a number of teams interested in playing some official games before going on to Sydney.

• Water polo: Spain, Italy, Yugoslavia and Greece will play in a men's tournament and Italy, Greece and another nation will join Australia in the women's water polo tournament.

• Basketball: Australia and the current world champions, Yugoslavia, will play the first round of an international series in Perth before the Sydney Games. Spain, Italy and Greece also have agreed to take part in a tournament, subject to their qualification; and -

• Gymnastics: The Spanish Gymnastics team has agreed to be a training partner with Greece and possibly Australia.

"The Festival of Sport will be a great chance for Western Australians to see top-class athletes in action in the run-up to the Olympic Games in Sydney," Mr Moore said.
"Greece, for example, is strong in team sports like soccer, water polo and basketball.
"There are few better water polo teams in the world than Yugoslavia.
"The Festival of Sport will enable our coaches and administrators to look at overseas training methods and coaching techniques.
"It will also give Western Australians a first-hand preview of what they can expect to see at the Olympic Games."
Mr Moore said that Sport International WA, headed by former Olympian and Olympic water polo coach, Tom Hoad, had played an important role in encouraging the Greek team to come to Perth.
It was also the catalyst for negotiating to bring the other teams to Perth for the Festival of Sport.
Sport International WA's charter was to foster sporting co-operation between nations and promote Western Australia's top-class sporting facilities and expertise.
Mr Moore said he was sure Western Australians would give the visitors a warm welcome.
"It will be an historic time, because traditionally Greece, as the home of the Olympics, will lead all the other nations in the opening ceremony in Sydney," he said.
"The Sydney Games will hold a special significance for Greece as well.
"Not only is it the last games of the millennium, but Greece will be the host for the next Olympic Games in 2004 so it will be looking closely at the organisation and arrangements for the Sydney Games."
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Greek team was part of a 10-day overseas tour during which Mr Moore inspected state-of-the art soccer stadiums in Reading, Derby, Huddersfield and Chelsea's famous ground Stamford Bridge in the United Kingdom and, as Mines Minister, addressed an oil and gas seminar in Stavanger, Norway.
Media contact: Hartley Joynt, Minister's office, 9321 1444