Basketball
Bartzokas: “No more victims in sport, I’m not optimistic”
Combining the horrific death of 19-year-old Alkis with the black jubilee of Thira 7, George Bartzokas wished that no more such blood was spilled in the wider area of the stadiums.
Olympiakos’ victory over Aris, their seventh in as many league away games, took second place. The atmosphere in Alexandreio was charged from the start after the game was played in the shadow of the murder of 19-year-old Alkis Kampanos and the poignant 19th-minute moments in memory of the undefeated youngster with Giorgos Printezis in pain.
Everyone was affected. Among them George Bartzokas. The Olympiacos coach was asked about the horrific event after the end of the game and wished “There should be no other sacrifices in sport in any way‘, linking what happened in the Charilaos area last Monday to the 41st anniversary of the fatal afternoon at Gate 7 of Karaiskakis.
“I would like to extend my condolences to the family of Alkis and Aris from the bottom of my heart‘ Bartzokas added.
In the subsequent press conference, the Piraeus coach consequently returned to the topic of the day. “At such events Greek society is activated, saddened and declared, but when it is over we are the same again. I’m not optimistic. There have been many similar sad incidents in the past. It has nothing to do with sport, but with our education and upbringing“.
Jessica Martinez is an author at Sportish, a publication dedicated to sports news and analysis. She covers various topics related to sports and provides insightful commentary on the latest developments in the world of sports.