By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
BOLOGNA, Italy – Exactly two years ago, a train accident in Tempi, Greece, cost the lives of 57 people. Today, on such a tragic anniversary, the streets of Athens were crowded with protests, still asking for a long delayed justice.
In the immediate aftermath of Olympiacos‘ road victory in the EuroLeague against Virtus Bologna, Georgios Bartzokas dedicated a moment to what was occurring.
“Before starting, I would like to tell you that today in our country is a sad day,” he began.
“Two years after the train crash that cost the lives of 57 people in Greece, you saw what happened today, with all the people coming down to the streets in memories of the victims. I just wanted to mention this because for all our country is very important,” Bartzokas added.
“Greek teams should have played today”
Speaking to the Eurohoops live show of the Greek edition after the game, Giannoulis Larentzakis echoed his coach: “The truth is that today I don’t want to talk about basketball at all! What is happening in Greece is something above sports. I hope that there will be justice and that the families of the victims will be vindicated, that they will feel at least a little satisfaction. It is terrible what they are going through. The Greek teams should not have played today, in my personal opinion. I wish we were there too”.
Olympiacos captain Kostas Papanikolaou, speaking to NOVA TV, added: “Today is not the day to talk about basketball; we should not talk about basketball. It is a day when all of Greece and all of us are 57 souls; all of Greece and all of us are 56 families. The thought of everyone and the voice of everyone is one”.
Olympiacos legend Giorgos Printezis posted photos of the protests on his social media, writing: “57 souls with 10 million relatives”. The population of Greece is 10 million.
PHOTO CREDIT: Eurokinissi