Δύο πολύ μεγάλα ζευγάρια ανέδειξε, όπως αναμένονταν άλλωστε, η κληρωτίδα για την ημιτελική φάση του Champions League.
Μάντσεστερ Σίτι-Ρεάλ Μαδρίτης και Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης-Μπάγερν Μονάχου θα διασταυρώσουν τα ξίφη τους για την πρόκριση στον τελικό του Μιλάνου που θα γίνει στις 28 Μαΐου.
Οι πρώτοι αγώνες θα διεξαχθούν 26/27 Απριλίου και οι επαναληπτικοί στις 3/4 Μαΐου.
Περισσότερα σε λίγο…
Στις 13.30 ξεκινά η κλήρωση του Europa League, όπου συμμετέχουν Λίβερπουλ, Σεβίλλη, Βιγιαρεάλ και Σαχτάρ Ντόνετσκ.
Επίσης δεν υπάρχουν περιορισμοί, ενώ θα καθοριστεί και ο γηπεδούχος του τελικού της Βασιλείας (18/5).
When Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, visit migrants on the Greek island of Lesbos this weekend, they’ll be doing more than sending a political message about the need to welcome refugees.
Christianity’s two most important leaders, still officially divided by a thousand-year schism, will be speaking with an increasingly unified voice that has gone beyond the realm of religion to confronting pressing issues such as climate change and humanitarian crises around the globe.
The visit, which comes on the heels of Francis’ historic meeting with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, is evidence of an increasingly important Catholic-Orthodox partnership that has been strengthened by shared concern for Christians being exterminated by Islamic extremists in the lands of Jesus’ birth.
Francis has called these indiscriminate attacks on Christians – Catholic, Orthodox and others – an “ecumenism of blood,” and it wouldn’t be surprising if he uses the term again on Lesvos when he meets with refugees fleeing Syria, Iraq and elsewhere.
“The ecumenical patriarch and popes for the last generation have increasingly begun to speak together on issues of common concern,” said George Demacopoulos, chair of Orthodox Christian studies at the Jesuit-run Fordham University in New York. “What you have here is a more specific case: You have the uniqueness of Pope Francis and the ecumenical patriarch at a tipping point in historical and European events.”
According to the Greek organizers, Francis and Bartholomew will visit with new arrivals at Lesvos’ Moria refugee registration center, which has essentially been turned into a detention center for refugees slated for deportation under the controversial EU-Turkey plan, which calls for new arrivals in Greece to be returned to Turkey. From Moria, Francis, Bartholomew and the head of the Church of Greece, Athens Archbishop Ieronymos, will visit the port in Mytilene, the island’s capital, to meet residents and hold a prayer service.
“It’s an extraordinary occasion,” said Cardinal Peter Turkson, head of the Vatican’s justice and peace office. “It’s a historic event because something like this has never happened before.”
Francis told his weekly general audience Wednesday that he and his Orthodox “brothers” were going “to express the closeness and solidarity to both the refugees and the citizens of Lesvos and the entire Greek people, who have been so generous in their welcome.”
The Catholic and Orthodox Churches split in 1054 in a dispute over papal power, among other things. The Second Vatican Council’s call for greater Catholic outreach to other Christians resulted in Pope Paul VIs historic meeting with the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox, Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras, in Jerusalem in 1964.
In 2014, Francis and Bartholomew marked the 50th anniversary of that event with a meeting in Jerusalem, which was followed by Francis’ visit to Istanbul later that year. The two men clearly get along well: Francis cited Bartholomew’s environmental writings in his own 2015 ecological encyclical – a first for a pope.
Bartholomew is the Istanbul-based “first among equals” in global Orthodoxy. The Greek church is independent of the patriarchate, one of the self-governing, “auto-cephalous” Orthodox churches that also include the Russian, Bulgarian and Serbian churches. While the Greek church and Ecumenical Patriarchate get along, the Greek church has been far less cozy with the Vatican.
Not so long ago, the Greek church adamantly opposed a papal visit.
When St. John Paul II toured Greece in 2001, the first pope to do so since the Great Schism, he was met with howls of protest by Greeks who considered it a Roman Catholic attempt to establish authority over the Orthodox Church. Orthodox monks and nuns prayed through the night to stop the visit, ordinary Orthodox took to the streets to protest and monastery bells tolled in mourning.
There was even a diplomatic standoff over whether John Paul would kiss the ground upon his arrival, as was his custom upon landing in a foreign country. In the end, he did kiss a pot of soil.
More importantly, John Paul issued a sweeping apology upon arrival in Athens for the “sins of action and omission” by Roman Catholics against Orthodox, including the Crusades-era sacking of Constantinople, the center of Greek Byzantium.
Fifteen years later, there has been no hint of protest at Francis’ visit.
And Catholic-Orthodox relations are clearly getting stronger: Bartholomew became the first ecumenical patriarch since the Great Schism to attend the installation of a pope when he was a guest of honor at Francis’ 2013 installation Mass. Francis recently met with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, the first-ever meeting between a pope and a Russian patriarch.
A delegation from the Vatican and the Moscow Patriarchate recently returned from Syria on a humanitarian aid mission that drew up a list of Christian sites that need to be repaired, evidence that even with the most estranged Orthodox church, Francis is finding common cause.
That said, Francis isn’t visiting Greece on an official state visit but rather on a humanitarian mission to a Greek island, and just for a few hours.
In an indication of the delicate protocol issues at play, both diplomatic and ecclesial, theres no shared version of how the visit came off.
Bartholomew’s office said he had invited Francis to join him in Lesbos via letter on March 30.
The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, the decision-making body of the Greek church, said Francis had asked to come to Greece to highlight the plight of refugees, that the synod had proposed he visit Lesvos and invited Bartholomew to come along.
The Vatican said Francis had accepted an invitation from Bartholomew and the Greek president, with no mention of the Greek Orthodox Church.
“The reality was that this was the patriarch’s idea,” said Demacopoulos. “The pro-forma is that he had to go through the archbishop of Athens and the state of Greece to make it happen.”
Archaeologists have discovered two mass graves near the Greek capital containing the skeletons of 80 men who may have been followers of ancient would-be tyrant Cylon of Athens.
Regional archaeological services director Stella Chryssoulaki laid out the theory Thursday as she unveiled the findings at the Central Archaeological Council, the custodians of Greeces ancient heritage.
Given “the high importance of these discoveries,” the council is launching further investigations, the culture ministry said in a statement.
Two small vases discovered amongst the skeletons have allowed archaeologists to date the graves from between 675 and 650 BC, “a period of great political turmoil in the region,” the ministry said.
The skeletons were found lined up, some on their backs and others on their stomachs. A total of 36 had their hands bound with iron.
They were discovered during excavations at an ancient cemetery on Athens’ seaside outskirts, on the construction site of the new National Library of Greece and National Opera.
Archaeologists found the teeth of the men to be in good condition, indicating they were young and healthy.
This boosts the theory that they could have been followers of Cylon, a nobleman whose failed coup in the 7th century BC is detailed in the accounts of ancient historians Herodotus and Thucydides.
Cylon, a former Olympic champion, sought to rule Athens as a tyrant. But Athenians opposed the coup attempt and he and his supporters were forced to seek refuge in the Acropolis, the citadel that is today the Greek capital’s biggest tourist attraction.
The conspirators eventually surrendered after winning guarantees that their lives would be spared.
But Megacles, of the powerful Alcmaeonid clan, had the men massacred – an act condemned as sacrilegious by the city authorities.
Historians say this dramatic chapter in the story of ancient Athens showed the aristocracy’s resistance to the political transformation that would eventually herald Athenian democracy 2,500 years ago.
Μια επίσκεψη από την Ελλάδα, που αναμένεται να περάσει στα αξιοσημείωτα ιστορικά γεγονότα της ομογένειας.
Μια επίσκεψη από την Ελλάδα, που αναμένεται να περάσει στα αξιοσημείωτα ιστορικά γεγονότα της ομογένειας, ξεκίνησε από χθες με την άφιξη στο Σίδνεϊ επταμελούς αγήματος Προεδρικής Φρουράς.
Ο ερχομός τους γίνεται με πρωτοβουλία της Ελληνικής Λέσχης της πόλης, και, όπως ανέφεραν παράγοντές της, έπρεπε να περάσουν πολλούς σκοπέλους, διοικητικούς, λογιστικούς και άλλους, για να φέρουν τους… τσολιάδες.
Το άγημα ευζώνων θα παραμείνει στην πόλη μέχρι τις 27 Απριλίου και στο διάστημα αυτό θα εμφανιστούν με τις παραδοσιακές φορεσιές τους σε εκδηλώσεις για τις επετείους της Μάχης της Κρήτης και ANZAC. Θα επισκεφθούν, επίσης, σχολεία και άλλα ιδρύματα της ομογένειας.
Το αποκορύφωμα των εμφανίσεών τους θα είναι η επιμνημόσυνη δέηση (Dawn Service) στο κενοτάφιο του Martin Place, την αυγή της 25ης Απριλίου, όπου συγκεντρώνεται μεγάλο πλήθος για να τιμήσει τη μνήμη των ANZACs. Εξάλλου, δόθηκε ειδική άδεια στους Εύζωνες να περπατούν κατά μήκος κεντρικής οδού του Σίδνεϊ και να φτάνουν μέχρι το Κενοτάφιο όπου θα φρουρούν το μνημείο, όπως ακριβώς πράττουν με το Μνημείο του Αγνώστου Στρατιώτη στην Αθήνα.
Στο πλαίσιο των εκδηλώσεων για την Μάχη της Κρήτης, οι Εύζωνες θα επισκεφθούν αυτό το Σάββατο το Πολεμικό Μνημείο (Anzac Memorial) στο Hyde Park και θα παραστούν σε τελετή απονομής μεταλλίων σε τρεις παλαιμάχους.
Ακολούθως, θα μεταβούν στην τελετή κατάθεσης στεφάνων στο Martin Place, όπου θα παραστεί και ο κυβερνήτης Ν.Ν. Ουαλίας, David Hurley, στρατηγός ε.α., με τους εκπροσώπους των ελληνικών και αυστραλιανών ενόπλων δυνάμεων.
Την Κυριακή θα εκκλησιαστούν στον καθεδρικό ναό Ευαγγελισμού της Θεοτόκου και μετά τη λειτουργία θα παρατεθεί προς τιμήν τους δεξίωση.
Την Δευτέρα, 18 Απριλίου, θα επισκεφθούν τον στρατώνα «Λαμία», έξω από το Σίδνεϊ και το μεσημέρι θα επισκεφθούν το ίδρυμα της «Βασιλειάδας» στο Lakemba.
Την Τρίτη, 19 του μήνα, σειρά έχουν το ίδρυμα της «Εστίας» και το Πολιτειακό Κοινοβούλιο, όπου θα υπάρξει συνάντηση με τους ομογενείς πολιτικούς και άλλους παράγοντες.
Την Τετάρτη 20/4, πέραν της ωριαίας φρουράς στο Martin Place, θα επισκεφθούν το Εβραϊκό Μουσείο της πόλης και θα παραστούν σε φωτογραφική έκθεση για την εκστρατεία των ANZACs στην Ελλάδα, που θα λειτουργεί στο Ναυτικό Μουσείο του Darling Harbour.
Την Πέμπτη, 21 Απριλίου προβλέπεται άλλη μια ώρα φρουράς στο Martin Place και παρουσία σε εκδήλωση σε τμήμα RSL προαστίου της πόλης.
Την Παρασκευή, 22 Απριλίου, είναι η τελευταία φρουρά στο Κενοτάφιο και μετά επίσκεψη στον ναό Αγίου Σπυρίδωνα Kingsford, όπου θα γίνει τελετή για τους ANZACs.
Την Κυριακή των Βαΐων θα παραστούν στον ναό Αγίων Πάντων, όπου συν τοις άλλοις, θα τιμηθεί και η Έξοδος του Μεσολογγίου.
Την Δευτέρα, 25 Απριλίου, που είναι η επέτειος των ANZACs του Α’ Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου, θα συμμετάσχουν στις πρωινές εκδηλώσεις (δέηση και κατάθεση στεφάνων) στο Κενοτάφιο, εκπροσωπώντας εκεί και την Ελληνική Λέσχη. Μετά θα λάβουν μέρος στην παρέλαση που ακολουθεί σε κεντρικό δρόμο της πόλης και στις τρεις το μεσημέρι θα παρακολουθήσουν το παιχνίδι rugby, ανάμεσα στους Roosters και τους Dragons, που παραδοσιακά είναι το παιχνίδι για την Ημέρα των ANZACs.
Για την Τρίτη 26 του μήνα συζητείται η επίσκεψή τους σε ελληνορθόδοξα Κολλέγια του Σίδνεϊ, ενώ την επομένη, Τετάρτη, 27 του μήνα, είναι προγραμματισμένη η αναχώρησή τους για την Ελλάδα.
FIFA and its European branch UEFA have threatened Greece with the expulsion of all its clubs and the Greek national football team from all international competitions following violent episodes among fans in early March.
Last Tuesday Greece and FIFA reached an agreement to restart the Greek Cup, as announced by the president of the Cyprus Football Association (CFA), Costakis Koutsokoumnis. “We have reached an agreement, there is a commitment to begin the Greek Cup again,” he stated after his meeting with Greek Deputy Sports Minister Stavros Kontonis and Greek FA president Giorgos Girtzikis.
Kontonis had previously cancelled the Greek Cup, which had reached the semi-final stage, for fear of turmoil, despite the Greek FA’s opposition.
“The matches may be held outside Athens, perhaps without spectators or perhaps with only schoolchildren in the stands. This will be decided on by Friday between Mr Kontonis and the FA,” Koutsokoumnis added.
According to AFP reports, foreign referees may be called in for the two semi-final matches and the pending final.
The Socceroos coach also commented on the news, expressing his relief FIFA and the Greek FA had resolved their dispute, which could have kept Greece’s national team from the two friendlies in Australia in June.
“It would have been a disaster if we didn’t get those two games, vital to preparing for September’s qualifiers,” Ange Postecoglou told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“It would have left a massive hole in our calendar. Greece is rebuilding its side but has still got real quality in the team. I’m hoping to see massive crowds and to give our players a taste for what’s ahead. I always knew it would get sorted out, us Greeks always like to leave it late.”
The Socceroos coach also commented on the news expressing his relief FIFA and the Greek FA had resolved their dispute which could have kept Greece’s national team from the two friendlies in Australia in June.
“It would have been a disaster if we didn’t get those two games, vital to preparing for September’s qualifiers,” Ange Postecoglou told Smh.
“It would have left a massive hole in our calendar. Greece is rebuilding their side but has still got real quality in the team. I’m hoping to see massive crowds and to give our players a taste for what’s ahead. I always knew it would get sorted out, us Greeks always like to leave it late.”
Some huge inclusions headline week one of the Hyundai A-League Finals Series. See all the squads for both Elimination Finals right here.
Hyundai A-League 2016 Elimination Final 1
Friday, 15 April 2016
Brisbane Roar FC (3) v Melbourne Victory (6)
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-Off: 7:35 pm (Local) (7:35 AEST)
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Cream
Assistant Referee 2: David Walsh
Fourth Official: Nathan MacDonald
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Ben Williams
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Peter Green
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7.00pm (AEST), SBS TWO from 8:00pm AEST and Sky Sport Pop Up (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: 612 ABC Brisbane, Grandstand Digital (Bris) Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-League Live. Crocmedia A-League Live (www.facebook.com/A-leagueLIVERadio)
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #BRIvMVC #ALFinals
Match of the Round Broadmeadow Magic FC v Lambton Jaffas FC Sunday, April 17, 2:30pm Magic Park
Round 2 of the PlayStation®4 National Premier League sees the league leaders Broadmeadow Magic welcome the Lambton Jaffas to Magic Park on Sunday afternoon.
Last week Broadmeadow showed why Magic Park is one of the toughest away days in the league, downing Adamstown with seven goals, three of which came from James Virgili down the wing.
Lambton took a loss in the first round of the competition, but with the defeat coming at the hands of the defending champions Edgeworth, the Jaffas cannot be faulted with dropping the points last weekend.
This match will be a vital three points for the travelling team however – two back to back losses to open the season could see confidence drop for the strong side and a win for Lambton against Magic, while difficult, will be crucial.
Bobby Naumov, dual coach of the home side, also knows that his side has to improve over the coming weeks, regardless of the dominant win that came in the first week.
“We managed to get a good win last week, but we played poorly in my opinion,” Naumov commented, speaking of the team’s 7-2 win over Adamstown.
“I think we have to keep an eye on what the squad can do, especially against Lambton. Conceding two goals late in the match last weekend cannot be something that becomes a regular habit, because there won’t be seven goals for us every week.”
“There aren’t any bolted on starters either. [James] Virgili and [Kale] Bradbery both got us some good goals, but we have to assess the squad in training every week and find the most passionate and the most prepared players to put on the field when it gets to the weekend.”
“With a lot of draws in the first round, another win can put us ahead on the ladder and I think anything but a win will be cause for concern in the squad, especially with another game at home.”
Both teams need the three points from the last match to be played in Round 2, but for Broadmeadow it’s to get a step forward and to be ahead on the ladder from the rest of the teams. However for Lambton it’s to get into the mix of the ladder early on in the season.
One thing is for sure in the Match of the Round – Magic Park saw nine goals last weekend, and Lambton lost to the defending champions only minutes before the final whistle. This game will be a highlight of the season for every fan, regardless of the final result.
Edgeworth FC v Weston Workers FC Jack McLaughlan Oval Friday, April 15, 9pm
Returning home after an away trip last weekend, defending champions Edgeworth will play late on Friday evening against the Weston Workers Bears, who are still looking for their first win in the 2016 season.
Two late goals from Ayden Brice and Keanu Moore saw Edgeworth take back the lead away from home last weekend and claim all three points in their first season outing and Damian Zane’s outfit will be eager for another win on the weekend to push their strong start further ahead.
Weston had a harder time of collecting points in their fixture however as they took part in a shoot-out with the Jets Youth in a six goal thriller that saw both teams leave the ground with a single point each.
Regardless of the three goals that were let in, Bears coach Trevor Morris was happy with his defence especially with their youngest player in the squad, Will Myers, whom turned 17 this week.
“After the effort that he put in against the Jets Youth, he absolutely deserves another start,” Bears coach Trevor Morris said of Myers’ name on the team sheet.
“He’ll be a starter for us again this weekend, no doubt and he’s showing that he’s hungry to learn and to grow.”
Edgeworth’s coach Zane also knows that the team sheet will be a focus of the match-up.
“Anyone who knows me, knows that I like to work on the team sheet week to week and I can tinker with it depending on who we’re facing,” he said.
“The team last week put in a great effort, but if there’s players who are more suited to taking on Weston then they’ll be in there over others. I don’t want to become complacent with choices and last season’s changing for opponents seems to have worked out okay in the long run.”
The obvious choice for Zane on the team sheet would be Keanu Moore, who scored the winner for Edgeworth last weekend, but the match against Lambton saw him start on the bench.
“Moore showed me that he deserves to be in contention and I think that we don’t have a starting eleven, we have seventeen or eighteen fantastic players and Keanu proved that with his goal.”
Will Myers will have much to prove against Zane’s champions this weekend, the battle in front of the away side’s goal could be a riveting affair.
Nothing is to be taken for granted this early in the season and Weston away from home is not to be underestimated – Friday evening will prove whether Edgeworth can continue their hot streak from the 2015 double.
Newcastle Jets Youth v Charlestown City Blues FC Saturday, April 16, 2:30pm, Lisle Carr Oval
The first game on Saturday afternoon is to be played at Lisle Carr Oval, where the Newcastle Jets Youth come up against the Charlestown City Blues.
With most teams in the competition coming off closely fought draws, both the Jets and the Blues now both look for a boost on the table in taking home three points.
The Jets Youth will be focusing on their scoring star from the first match, Cameron Joice, who showed great character for a young player when he wrong-footed the Bears’ keeper to open the scoring for the boys in red and blue.
Joice will have a tough time breaking down Nathan Archbold between the sticks for the Blues, however with Charlestown’s new signing, he will be keen for a clean sheet in his new club colours and everything to prove after his move away from Magic at the start of the season.
Charlestown and the Jets both need the win as a leg up in a season that could mean a place higher than mid-table for both sides and both coaches will be eyeing the victory as a way to keep their squad on the right track.
Lisle Carr Oval will be the host of an exciting game for all who attend. With the Jets boasting a dangerous attacking side and Charlestown keeping their squad on an upward trajectory, it will be a battle between both sides to secure their first win of the season.
Valentine FC v Maitland FC Saturday, April 16, 3pm Cahill Oval
An old table-topping battle from the NewFM 1st Division, Valentine now welcome Maitland to Cahill Oval in the top league in Northern NSW, with both teams looking for their first win of the season.
With both teams having recruited strongly in the off season to avoid the bottom of the table, each coach will be eyeing all three points to keep their objectives alive and make clear that their signings have been influential on their sides.
Maitland’s Steve Piggott believes that Maitland has to focus on their defensive shape in the league, but knows that after a goalless match to open the season his players will need to find the back of the net as soon as possible.
“We’re probably going to be keeping a defensive shape that relies on two holding midfielders and will be keeping an eye on our obvious defensive strengths, but against Valentine we also have to play a bit more freely.”
“I think a lot of people look at our defensive strengths and our abilities to keep the score down and the first thing that they think of is that we’re playing a ‘negative’ game, but keeping goals out of the back of the net is key to victories and long standing campaigns.”
“We may also shift shape for Valentine however – I know we’re away from home, but I want to see the fans celebrating some goals and because of the change in shape there may be a change in personnel. It will probably be two changes at most, possibly to add some goals to our tally,” Piggott concluded.
Valentine’s coach, Darren Sills, believes that missing players holds the key to his club’s chances for winning this weekend.
“At the different end of the field we have Reece Pettit and Josh Swaddling giving us a massive boost across the board and last week our lack of pace at the back kind of saw us get caught out by pacey players.”
“Pettit at the back means that our speed issues could go away, he’s fast and strong and he’s got a great ability to silence forwards that are troubling our defence. He’s back from his suspension and that means that he can fit right into the side.”
“Maitland’s forward Heffernan is a great player, but his game isn’t built around speed so it’ll be good to focus on the positioning of the backline instead of back pedalling on breakaways.”
Heffernan in attack and Pettit keeping him from making an impact will be the major battle of the match and if Heffernan can bring his former A-League talents to the duel then that may be the deciding factor for the travelling team.
Cahill Oval will be the staging ground for both teams, they will both be eager to get 3 points and their first win of the season.
Hamilton Olympic FC v Adamstown Rosebuds FC Saturday, April 16, 6pm Darling Street Oval
Fresh off the back of a goalless draw against Maitland, Hamilton Olympic will take on Adamstown Rosebuds at Darling Street Oval on Saturday evening.
The Rosebuds were on the other end of the spectrum in terms of goals in their game, with nine goals in their match against Broadmeadow and seven of them going against them.
The travelling side will be looking to set the record straight on the start of their season, but Olympic are not a team that they can easily claim a victory over, especially with their team back to full force.
After rehabilitating from an injury sustained over the summer, Kane Goodchild is set to make his first start after completing only three weeks of full training and coming on a half-time substitute in the game against Maitland.
Hamilton’s’ coach, Michael Bolch, will be eyeing Goodchild to make an impact up front for the side, with the dangerous striker having already scored 12 goals for the club since his 2015 move to Darling Street.
It’s expected that Bolch will focus on a formation that allows both Goodchild and Tom Spencer to play up top on the weekend, with star signing Leo Bertos moving out to the wing to accommodate the change.
The Rosebuds will be prepared for Hamilton’s attacking prowess, however they may look to play a defensive game considering they are away from home and looking to keep from leaking goals, a focus that will be key after Broadmeadow’s damaging assault last weekend.
With Hamilton and Adamstown both having a long history of battles against each other, the fans will be looking for another exciting clash at Darling Street. The final match on Saturday afternoon will be a key game for both teams to kick start their campaigns in this year’s 2016 PlayStation 4 NPL Northern NSW season.
Παρουσία 350 και πλέον Λευκαδιτών και μη κάθε ηλικίας, έλαβε χώρα την περασμένη Κυριακή το μεσημέρι η εκδήλωση για να εορταστούν τα 10 χρόνια παρουσίας του Πολιτιστικού Συλλόγου Λευκάδας στα παροικιακά και πολιτιστικά δρώμενα της Μελβούρνης.
Η εκδήλωση τελούσε υπό την αιγίδα της ομοσπονδιακής βουλευτή του Εργατικού Κόμματος, Μαρίας Βαμβακινού, η οποία και έχει γεννηθεί στη Λευκάδα.
Η εκδήλωση, που συντόνισε η κ. Κλαίρη Γαζή, μέλος του Δ.Σ. του Συλλόγου, άρχισε με χαιρετισμό της προέδρου, κ. Όλγας Βλάχου, που καλωσόρισε όλους τους παραβρισκόμενους, και έκανε μία μικρή αναδρομή στα πεπραγμένα του συνδέσμου. Στη συνέχεια, τον λόγο πήρε η κ. Μαρία Βαμβακινού, η οποία αναφέρθηκε στη σχέση που αναπτύχθηκε μεταξύ της ίδιας και του συλλόγου κατά τα 10 χρόνια της ζωής του, εξαίροντας το πολιτιστικό του έργο. Η κ. Βαμβακινού ευχαρίστησε, επίσης, όλους όσους εργάστηκαν για να βρίσκεται σήμερα ο σύλλογος στην ευχάριστη θέση να εορτάζει τα δέκα του χρόνια. Ολοκληρώνοντας την ομιλία της, η κ. Βαμβακινού έκανε ιδιαίτερη μνεία στον Ελβετό της Λευκάδας, τον γνωστό φωτογράφο, Fritz Berger, που εγκαταστάθηκε στο νησί μετά τον Β’ Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο και κατέγραψε στις φωτογραφίες του τη ζωή της Λευκάδας κατά τις δεκαετίες 1950 και 1960. Η κ. Βαμβακινού είπε, ότι ενώ οι μεγαλύτεροι σε ηλικία προσκεκλημένοι της εκδήλωσης θυμούνται ώς ένα βαθμό εκείνη τη Λευκάδα των παιδικών τους χρόνων, οι νεώτεροι θα έχουν την ευκαιρία να γνωρίσουν έστω και λίγο μέσα από τα δρώμενα της εκδήλωσης.
Κύρια ομιλήτρια της εκδήλωσης ήταν η δημοσιογράφος του «Νέου Κόσμου», Ευγενία Παυλοπούλου. Το θέμα της ομιλίας της ήταν η Λευκαδίτισσα του 20ού αιώνα, του πρώτου αιώνα μετά την ένωση του νησιού με την υπόλοιπη Ελλάδα, αλλά και ενός αιώνα κατά τον οποίο η Λευκάδα έζησε αφόρητη φτώχεια ως ένα άγονο νησί.
Ο μόχθος της γυναίκας της Λευκάδας, τόσο κατά τη μεταπολεμική περίοδο όσο και στην πριν τον Β’ Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο εποχή, δεν περιορίστηκε μόνο στις οικιακές και αγροτικές ασχολίες της οικογένειας. Οι Λευκαδίτισσες εργάστηκαν σκληρά και σε άλλες μονάδες παραγωγής όπως στις Αλυκές της Λευκάδας.
Η κ. Παυλοπούλου, στην αναφορά της έδωσε ιδιαίτερο βάρος στο πώς η γυναίκα της Λευκάδας κατάφερε μέσα από την τέχνη του κεντήματος, μία τέχνη που κατάφερε να συντηρήσει παρ’ όλες τις άλλες της εργασιακές υποχρεώσεις, παρήγαγε τα πρώτα εξαγώγιμα «αγαθά» για τον τόπο της. Τα κεντήματα της Λευκαδίτισσας, εκτός από τη συμβολή τους στην τοπική οικονομία του νησιού πριν την έλευση του τουρισμού στο νησί, όταν στα τέλη της δεκαετίας του ’70 άρχισε η τουριστική κίνηση, τα προϊόντα της κεντητικής τέχνης αναδείχθηκαν σε σημαντικά συστατικά στοιχεία της τοπικής πολιτιστικής ταυτότητας μίας ταυτότητας που έπαιξε καθοριστικό ρόλο στην περαιτέρω ανάπτυξη του τουρισμού.
Στο πλαίσιο της εκδήλωσης έγινε και αναπαράσταση του Λευκαδίτικου Γάμου στην οποία συμμετείχαν κυρίως νέα παιδιά που αναβίωσαν τα έθιμα και τις παραδόσεις του.
Όλοι όσοι παραβρέθηκαν είχαν επίσης την ευκαιρία να δουν παραδοσιακά κειμήλια από κάθε γωνιά του νησιού τα οποία παρουσιάζονταν σε λαογραφική έκθεση που τα μέλη του Συλλόγου είχαν στήσει στο χώρο της αίθουσας εκδηλώσεων Moonlight όπου και διεξήχθη η εκδήλωση. ώστε να δημιουργήσουν ένα τέλειο σύνολο. Την έκθεση, εγκαινίασαν ο πρώην πρόεδρος κ. Χρήστος Μελάς και η πρόεδρος, κ. Βλάχου.
Στο πλαίσιο της εκδήλωσης, η νυν πρόεδρος τίμησε και όλους τους προκατόχους της προέδρους του Συλλόγου αναγνωρίζοντας την προσφορά τους.
Τέλος, να αναφέρουμε ότι η εκδήλωση συμπεριελάμβανε και την παρουσίαση παραδοσιακών χορών της Λευκάδας, την οποία επιμελήθηκε το χορευτικό συγκρότημα του Σωτήρη Σωτηρίου «Πήγασος».
Desperate family members of the 60 Minutes team held in Beirut have confronted Channel Nine executives as the child snatching drama enters its second week, amid claims that the network indirectly funded the botched child snatching attempt.
According to a report of Wednesday’s meeting, the wife of one crew member asked Nine chief executive Hugh Marks: “Since when is Channel Nine in the business of child stealing? Is that what we do now?”
But the network has rejected the claim, made in News Corp newspapers, with a Nine spokeswoman insisting: “That was just not said.”
Overnight, the ABC reported that Australian mother Sally Faulkner paid for the botched rescue of her two young children from their father using money which came from 60 Minutes.
In another, unsourced, development the ABC has reported that Ms Faulkner will agree to give up sole custody of her children – granted to her by the Family Court in Australia – if her children’s Lebanese father, Ali Elamine, agrees to drop the charges.
Ms Faulkner, 60 Minutes journalist Tara Brown and her crew – cameraman Benjamin Williamson, sound recordist David Ballment and producer Stephen Rice – are being held in Beirut after a failed attempt to retrieve Ms Faulkner’s children Lahala, 6, and Noah, 4, last week.The Nine spokeswoman said that Wednesday’s boardroom gathering was a “broader” meeting that included extended family members of the 60 Minutes crew.She did not comment on claims from Ms Faulkner’s lawyer Ghassen Moghabghab, reported by the ABC, that the aborted abduction by British-based firm Child Abduction Recovery International was funded by Ms Faulkner using money paid to her by 60 Minutes.
The spokeswoman also declined to say whether a network manager approved the payment — or the use of the controversial “child recovery agency” — before the 60 Minutes crew flew to Lebanon.
“Our focus is on getting everyone home safely, as soon as possible,” she told Fairfax Media.
“We’re getting great help from DFAT.
“We’re not going to be commenting further at this stage.”
Nine is expected to conduct its own investigation into the incident, which has become a diplomatic and public relations disaster for the network.
Όμορφα παιχνίδια και πολλά γκολ περιελάμβανε η βραδιά των προημιτελικών του Europa League, όλα όμως επισκιάστηκαν από τον «άθλο» της Λίβερπουλ, η οποία αν και βρέθηκε να χάνει με 0-2 και 1-3 στο 66ο λεπτό κέρδισε 4-3 και πήρε μια τεράστια πρόκριση αφήνοντας εκτός την Ντόρτμουντ. Εύκολη πρόκριση πανηγύρισε η Σαχτάρ που επικράτησε 4-0 της Μπράγκα, ενώ επίσης εύκολα, με 4-2, προκρίθηκε και η Βιγιαρεάλ. Τη διαδικασία των πέναλτι χρειάστηκε για να πάρει το τελευταίο εισιτήριο των ημιτελικών η Σεβίλη, αφήνοντας εκτός την Αθλέτικ Μπιλπμπάο. Ας δούμε αναλυτικά…
Λίβερπουλ – Ντόρτμουντ 4-3
«Έπος» έγραψε στο «Άνφιλντ» η Λίβερπουλ. Στο κορυφαίο παιχνίδι της χρονιάς στα κύπελλα Ευρώπης και ίσως σε ένα από τα καλύτερα όλων των εποχών, η ομάδα του Γιούργκεν Κλοπ που βρέθηκε να χάνει 0-2 και 1-3 από τη Ντόρτμουντ, κατάφερε να φτάσει στη νίκη με 4-3 στις καθυστερήσεις και να προκριθεί στους ημιτελικούς του Europa League με εμφάνιση ανάλογη με αυτή της Κωνσταντινούπολης το 2005 όταν και πανηγύρισε την κατάκτηση του Champions League στα πέναλτι ενώ έχανε με 0-3 από τη Μίλαν.
Σε παιχνίδι… διαφήμιση για το ποδόσφαιρο, τα δύο γρήγορα γκολ των Γερμανών (Μχιταριάν 5΄, Ομπαμεγιάνγκ 9΄) έφεραν την ομάδα του Τούνχελ σε «θέση οδηγού», μετά το 1-1 της περασμένης εβδομάδας στην Βεστφαλία, ωστόσο, οι «κόκκινοι» δεν είχαν πει την τελευταία τους κουβέντα. Στο 48΄ ο Οριγκί έδωσε ελπίδες στους γηπεδούχους, αλλά στο 57΄ το γκολ του Ρόις φάνηκε να «κλειδώνει» την υπόθεση πρόκριση για τους φιλοξενούμενους.
Ο Κουτίνιο στο 66΄ μείωσε σε 2-3 και στο 78΄ ο Σακό με κεφαλιά έφερε το ματς στα ίσια και στα τελευταία λεπτά το ματς έγινε… ροντέο. Οι γηπεδούχοι τα έδωσαν όλα και κατάφεραν στις καθυστερήσεις με την κεφαλιά του Λόβρεν ολοκλήρωσαν το θαύμα αφήνοντας 11 αγάλματα στον αγωνιστικό χώρο (σ.σ. οι παίκτες της Ντόρτμουντ).
Η Λίβερπουλ με το σημερινό 4-3 διατήρησε το αήττητο που έχει απέναντι στις γερμανικές ομάδες στα ευρωπαϊκά κύπελλα (13 νίκες, 4 ισοπαλίες) και θα βρεθεί για 17η φορά στους ημιτελικούς των ευρωπαϊκών κυπέλλων.
Συναρπαστική εξέλιξη είχαμε και στο «Σάντσεθ Πιθχουάν» όπου η Σεβίλη πήρε την πρόκριση στα πέναλτι επί της Αθλέτικ Μπιλμπάο, η οποία είχε καταφέρει να ισοφαρίσει το σκορ του πρώτου αγώνα επικρατώντας 2-1.
Όμως, η κάτοχος των τελευταίων δύο τροπαίων με παροιμιώδη ψυχραιμία στα πέναλτι (5 στα 5) πέρασε στους «4» και θα έχει την ευκαιρία να γίνει η πρώτη στην ιστορία του θεσμού με τρεις διαδοχικές κατακτήσεις.
Σαχτάρ – Μπράγκα 4-0
Μετά το «διπλό» στον πρώτο αγώνα, η Σαχτάρ είχε το πάνω χέρι και το επιβεβαίωσε αφού επικράτησε εύκολα με 4-0 και πήρε άνετα την πρόκριση στην επόμενη φάση.
Μάλιστα από τα 4 γκολ, η Σαχτάρ σκόραρε μόλις… δύο με τον Σρνα στο 25′ και τον Κοβαλένκο στο 50, ενώ τα υπόλοιπα δύο ήταν αυτογκόλ του Φερέιρα στο 43′ και το 74′.
Σπάρτα Πράγας – Βιγιαρεάλ 2-4
Η Βιγιαρεάλ είχε πάρει μια δύσκολη νίκη στην έδρα της στον πρώτο αγώνα και ήθελε να εξασφαλίσει την πρόκριση.
Έτσι και έγινε αφού μόλις στο 49ο λεπτό βρισκόταν μπροστά στο σκορ με 4-0 και ο αγώνας είναι πάρει διαδικαστικό χαρακτήρα.
Το μόνο που κατάφεραν οι γηπεδούχοι ήταν να μειώσουν και να αρκεστούν στον αποκλεισμό.
Την Παρασκευή η κλήρωση…
Δύο ισπανικές ομάδες (Βιγιαρεάλ, Σεβίλη), μία αγγλική (Λίβερπουλ) και μία από την Ουκρανία (Σαχτάρ Ντόνετσκ), θα μπουν το μεσημέρι της Παρασκευής στην κληρωτίδα της UEFA στη Νιόν για την τελευταία πρόκληση πριν από τον τελικό της 18ης Μαϊου στο «Ζανκτ Γιάκομπ» της Βασιλείας.
Αναλυτικά οι σκόρερ στις ρεβάνς των προημιτελικών:
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 