S. Bekatorou - A. Tsoulfa: We will do our best in Athens!

The world sailing champions in the 470-craft category, Sophia Bekatorou and Amelia Tsoulfa, are in the midst of their final preparations for the Athens Olympics, and they pronounce themselves ready to fight for the gold medal.

At a press conference held today, the two gold sailing champions spoke of their training schedule and their ambitious goals in the international events they will participate in, in the few months leading up to the Olympic Games. They also expressed satisfaction at the support received from their official sponsor, EFG Eurobank Ergasias, as well as from all the people who are at their side, explaining that this support allowed them untrammeled devotion to their goals.

The successful and renowned twosome of Greek sailing has been representing Greece victoriously in many international events since 1997, having recently won the title of World Champions for the 4^th consecutive year.

In the run-up to the Athens Olympics, the golden girls of Greek sailing will take part in several important events, including the World and European championships. Specifically, the competition events calendar schedule leading up the Olympic Games is as follows:

• Eurolymp in France (Hyeres), 23-30/4/2004
• World Championship in Croatia (Zadar), 4-16/5/2004
• Eurolymp in The Netherlands (Medemblik), 26-30/5/2004
• European Championship in Germany (Warnemunde), 1-10/6/2004
• Eurolymp in Germany (Kieler Bay), 19-27/6/2004

According to the two champions, participating and, of course, aiming for first prize at the Olympic Games of Athens is the “bet of a lifetime”. It provides them with a unique chance and a great honour to do their best during this top event which takes place in their homeland.

For his part, coach Mr. Elias Mylonas referred in detail to the two athletes’ training schedule and confirmed their high level of readiness and excellent preparation that will enable them once again to accomplish their objectives. 

EFG Eurobank Ergasias was represented by General Manager Mr. Giorgos Alvertis, who thanked the two golden athletes for their excellent performances and achievements that promote Greek sports at international level and fill all Greeks with pride. He also pointed out that Eurobank will be at their side throughout this arduous period of training and he expressed his confident belief that they will rank at the highest level at the Athens Olympics. Mr. G. Alvertis added, “It is a great honour for us to support you in your endeavour. You have conferred very significant distinctions on Greece, practicing a sport that is probably not very popular or highly-promoted, lacking as it does a proper “grandstand”. However, not only does this not reduce the significance of your success, but it further underscores the value of your effort”. He closed with these words: “Eurobank has chosen to play an active and creative part also in the realm of sports. It supports the efforts of Greek athletes in track events and sailing, and supports all the Greek national basketball teams, because it believes that an unfaltering effort to achieve high goals and a steady orientation toward the achievement of success constitute important values, values with which the Bank itself strongly identifies”.