Tennis: EFOA requests return of use of tennis facilities in OAKA

EFOA has taken a clear position in the case of using the tennis facility in OAKA. The Greek Tennis Federation is asking the state to give it back use.

The corresponding announcement in detail: “Following the 35-year lease tender of the Olympic tennis facility announced by the Board of OAKA on 12/28/2021, the Hellenic Tennis Federation is clarifying the facts, restoring the truth and institutionally informing the family about Greek tennis with this announcement, but also the sports public.

1. EFOA is the only organization that legally cultivates tennis in our country, according to current legislation and the rules of the International Federation.

2. From April 1999 to mid-2003, EFOA had leased all of OAKA’s tennis facilities at a monthly rent of 3,000,000 drachmas or 8,804 euros. The price only applied to the 16 stadiums, since the stable building infrastructure was made for “ATHEN 2004”. Programs for all age groups were carried out on the site and all important events of the association were carried out.

3. In addition to the above-mentioned rent, the federal government’s obligations were the maintenance of the facilities and the return of the percentages from admission tickets and advertisements to the OAKA.

4. At the beginning of 2003, the Ministry of Culture responsible for the Olympic projects applied for the termination of the contract.

5. After the Olympics, in early 2005, EFOA applied to be relocated to OAKA and received a negative response.

6. With each change in management at OAKA, EFOA has requested the facilities be returned to partial or full lease status.

7. Since then and until 2012, Panhellenic, international games and world championships (Davis Cup) were held on the facilities of the Olympic Tennis Center, with high costs for the EFOA, such as e.g. B. €25,000 for 10 days or €35,000 for 15 days. There was an hourly charge for use by the National Ladders.

8. From 2012 to 2019, EFOA continued to insist on the facilities being returned to partial or full lease status by them.

9. In 2020 and after the facilities were granted for 2 years to the company “Stadium 2020” and then with the 90% stake in the company of Ioannis Hippocrates Stasinopoulos, TEMES SA, EFOA negotiated with the above company and after negotiations with the Legal advisers on both sides concluded a contract under private law. This agreement was not signed after the withdrawal of “Stadion 2020”. We point out that for the implementation of the national championship and after signing the contract outside the agreement, “Stadium 2020” asked € 7,000, an amount that was not paid by EFOA with the intervention of the Ministry of Sport. In 2021 EFOA organized the national under 16 championship.

10. The facilities were not transferred back to the EFOA, since their operation by OAKA generated considerable income and created liquidity.

The above to reflect what was heard that the EFOA had abandoned the Olympic tennis facilities in OAKA.

Referring to the tender for the 35-year lease for the Olympic tennis facilities, EFOA says it is disappointed at its deliberate and total exclusion.

• EFOA was never asked by OAKA management if they were interested in participating in the process, although OAKA was aware of what was happening in 2020.

• The OAKA declaration obliges every interested person, natural or legal person, to participate, under pain of exclusion, with a partner of 30% who has managed a similar institution and has experience with events, academies, etc.

• The above condition completely barred EFOA from participating in the competition as it is a non-profit legal entity.

• EFOA requested a legal opinion for confirmation, after which it was not given the opportunity to participate.

• The proclamation, as usual, did not provide for any “borrowing” of experience, either at the level of study or at the level of diploma.

• The Greek tennis family wonders if the EFOA is excluded from their participation in their physical space, who else has their experience in the sport, but also to be present in hundreds of national and international events, children’s training sessions, coaching schools, etc. in the Olympic complex?

• EFOA would participate by bringing its experience in all possible schemes, facilitating competition and the participation of more interested parties. The tender conditions led to the participation of only one company, the company “Stadion 2020”.

• EFOA estimates the annual revenue at €3,000,000 with its experience, information gathering and monitoring of the activities that “Stadium 2020” has already developed in 2020 and 2021 and any others that the declaration allows to be implemented . The costs are estimated at €1,400,000 and the pre-tax profit at €1,600,000.

• In summary, it is evident that EFOA could cover the requested rent of €15,000, invest the amount of €5,000,000 requested in the declaration and return the profits to the Greek citizens and the public body without being bound for 35 years. Also, he’s done it with absolute consistency in the past, which OAKA was aware of.

EFOA is bound by duty and respecting its institutional role to take all legal steps to defend the interests of sport.