Eleni Artymata broke out with the following post after the decision of the committee to stay out of scholarships, in view of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Details:
«Αίδώς Αργείοι ..
After 4 participations in the Olympic Games, the Cyprus Olympic Committee decided to stay out of the scholarships of 2024. The first reason is because I have the technical level and these results that prove the possibility of qualifying and participating in the 2024 Olympic Games.
Fortunately gentlemen your predecessors did not have the same way of thinking as you because you will only me in Beijing 2008.
The second reason I have says access to alternative ways of covering the cost of my preparation.
In fact, I am not supported by the Olympic Committee itself, so I run to find sponsors in these difficult times when most people are struggling for basic necessities.
Thank you gentlemen for appreciating my 13th place in the last races, the Cypriot record and my overall offer. I do not go to the older ones because obviously you do NOT know.
PS Forgive me for coming back for whatever is needed on Monday ".
The list also includes the name of Pavlos Kontidis, as well as Apostolos Parellis, Giorgos Achilleos and Marios Georgios.
What does KOE answer?
The decision of the Cyprus Olympic Committee was strongly criticized, with its president, George Chrysostomou explaining that in order to give the sponsorship, the conditions must be met. The president of KOE, George Chrysostomou, stated in detail on the SIGMA show Protosellido:
"The specific scholarship program is in view of the Olympic Games in Paris. It is not aimed exclusively at high-performance athletes. Aimed at athletes where they have the ability to qualify. The main criterion is to select athletes where the specific amount of the scholarship will play an important role in their preparation. Athletes entering the program do not have alternative resources from sponsorships or other ways of covering the preparation. We are not saying that Milan or other athletes who have not been nominated have no prospects for Paris or that they have no need to prepare. Just some of the athletes who have been nominated have been found by the executive board to be in greater need of support.
Appreciation, sympathy and respect for all athletes is a given. "Athletes with a perspective on Paris that existed due to financial hardship and are in danger of quitting are included in the program."