We are in an individual sport we have team spirit and individual responsibility said coach VATSAKLIS
For the first time since mid-March and the start of the quarantine in Greece the National Training Center opened again at Stadium Peace and Friendship. With the approval of the Deputy Minister of Sports Lefteris AVGENAKIS under the guidance of the Health Scientific Committee of Sports with absolute reverence in the observance of the rules of hygiene and with strict discipline in the Health Protocols eight athletes (4 men and 4 women) practiced yesterday in the national hall of the Peace and Friendship Stadium in the presence of the general secretary of sports George MAVROTAS.
It is a very important improve and one of the first timid steps in restarting sports. In today’s first training session Panagiotis GIONIS Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS Konstantinos AGGELAKIS Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS Katerina TOLIOU Georgia ZAVITSANOU Elisavet TERPOU and Malamatenia PAPADIMITRIOU took part with the national coaches Konstantinos VATSAKLIS and Konstantinos KOSTOPOULOS.
Under these special conditions only the athletes who are included in the Olympic preparation start trial were on duty; not all those who train at SEF as members of the pre-national teams nor all the athletes since the sports facilities the gyms the halls of the clubs remain closed.
Alongside the legendary water polo player and current general secretary of sports George MAVROTAS the federal hall at SEF visited the president of HTTF and General Secretary of the Hellenic Olympic Committee Manolis KOLYMPADIS the president of SEF Christina TSILIGIRI and the Director – Coordinator of SEF Panagiotis KOUTSOGIANNIS. They wanted to check the implementation of health protocols.
Disinfections and maintenance have been carried out with great care in the sports facility. At the entrance of the athletes the temperature is measured with special thermometers on the walls there are antiseptics as well as in the national hall which is ventilated; it is equipped with gloves masks disinfectants while the distances are strictly observed. The locker rooms are not used as are the showers. Of course the resumption of training takes place behind closed doors while in general in SEF entry without permission is prohibited.
Konstantinos VATSAKLIS and Konstantins KOSTOPOULOS said to the athletes:
“We are going slowely with absolute attention and observance of the rules of hygiene so that we can all start the trainings as soon as possible. We are making an effort to restore normality to all. We are not the privileged we are going to open a way. We are in an individual sport we have team spirit and individual responsibility. Many people have worked hard to get started. It’s our turn to enter and prove what sport is.”
