ANNOUNCEMENT
In his most recent interview, which besides delusional, was degrading for both the team and the game, the president of the National Basketball Federation talked about many things, one of which was the matter of the insurance policy of the National Teams.
In order to bypass any and all questions and misunderstandings, we would like to explain the following:
The checking of the International Athletes' insurance contracts, proved that the athletes are not completely insured (like the U20 National Team). Indicatively:
(a)The athletes that take part in the National Team, are not insured at all for an 80 day period, which commences when they get with the team and ends when the team starts its official game schedule.
(b) The maximum amount of money that the Federation is willing to pay for potential players' injuries is 3 million dollars, while the contracts of the team's players add up to 8.9 million, just counting this season.
In simple terms, the Federation through its President, has been eluding reality using half-truths and inaccurate data on an issue that could have been dealt with rather easily, provided there had been clarity and sincerity from the start, instead of becoming a reason for controversy (it is indicative that he even refused Olympiacos offer).
The fact that the truth has been finally exposed, led Mr. Vassilakopoulos to lose his temper and get out of line by engaging slander and offensive remarks. The President of the Federation has not only validated in the most graphic behavior his anti-Olympiacos rage, but he has also exhibited insulting and inappropriate behavior for a constitutional agent.
Unfortunately, the behavior of the Federation’s President is suggestive of his regimented mentality and the way he perceives his role to be.
It is actually the time for the Federation President to realize that he neither can nor is entitled to act as the owner of Greek Basketball. If he is not capable of doing that, then the State has to enforce it.
Finally, Mr. Vassilakpoulos will have to explain how his pretext as it shows position against the commercialization of basketball and the doping plague, comes to terms with the arduous effort to incorporate with the National Team and athlete punished for using controlled substances, as well as with ‘buying’ the participation of the National Men’s team for the Mundobasket, for which the team had not earned its participation through competition.
All the rest will come in due time.
OLYMPIACOS BC