Local Football:

Thiagoras 3 v Iraklis Nip. 0:

With Iraklis Nip. fielding a weakened team, Thiagoras were soon on the attack and after five minutes Dimitri Somarakis went close to opening the scoring and then a shot by Karagounis was saved by the Iraklis goalkeeper, Mihali Toutouthakis. After 15 minutes a mistake by the Iraklis defence let in Pavlos Moraitakis to open up the scoring. In the 20^th minute a free kick taken by Yianni Metohianakis was tipped over the bar by the goalkeeper. A good move by Thiagoras resulted in a corner from which Karagounis scored a good goal to make the score 2 – 0.  In the 30^th minute another neat move ended with Dimitris Somarakis hitting just over the bar. Thiagoras were then queuing up to shoot with Metohianakis, Moraitakis and Tsagournis all going close. In the 39^th minute a nice move by Thiagoras ended with Petras scoring the third goal. From the start of the second half Iraklis were the better team. A good run by Moraitakis ended with him being brought down and, from the free kick, Thelistathis hit the ball just over the bar. The Khronicles Man of the Match was Alexis Tsagkournis who, for an 18 year old, showed a mature way of defending.

League Championship:

After their last match at home, Thiagoras (Anopoli) were presented with the Championship cup and, along with Romanos (Elia) who came second, they are promoted from the Γ’ ΕΠΣΗ to the Β’ ΕΠΣΗ.

Football:

Panathinaikos, celebrating their 100^th anniversary, grabbed the second Champions’ League spot. Olympiakos have the other slot after winning the League. A.E.K. and Aris will be in the UEFA Cup and Panionios will be in the Intertoto Cup.

The Greek Football Federation confirmed that coach Otto Rehhagel has signed a new contract which will keep him until 2010. During his reign, the Greek team have moved up from 61^st to 8^th position in the FIFA’s World Rankings, a position they will keep before the start of the Euro 2008. Their first game will be on June 10 at the Wals-Siezenheim stadium, Salzburg, against Sweden who is ranked twenty third.

O.F.I. Football Club are parting company with coach Yiorgos Paraschos, who has been in charge for only six months, after they could not agree on personal terms. O.F.I., who finished the season in 12^th position, only three points off the relegation zone, have not named a replacement. Paraschos had previously been sacked by P.A.O.K. after the first game of the season.

Rugby:

Niall Doherty (Ireland) has quit as coach of Greece’s national rugby team after falling out with the country’s Rugby Federation over selection for the Sevens Tournament to take place in Corfu this month. He said “the federation wanted me to pick certain players and leave out others. They also wanted me to take a pay cut. I cannot work with anyone who interferes with selection and starts telling me whom I can and cannot pick.”

Golf:

The Crete Golf Club in Hersonissos will host the third Aegean Airlines ProAm International Tournament on June 5 to 7. The course is rated as one of the best in Greece, and this year’s tournament is expected to draw heavy support.

Also, it was announced that the 3^rd Porto Elounda Autumn Cup and Pro Am tournament will be played on October 3 and 4  at both the Crete Golf Club and the Porto Elounda Golf Club in Elounda. There will also be a special open competition for men and women on October 5 at Porto Elounda.

Tennis:

Greece’s leading tennis player, Eleni Daniilidou, will miss this year’s Wimbledon tournament as she recovers from knee surgery. Organizers of the Athens Open in September are hoping she will be fit to play as they are arranging a women’s event with Daniilidou as the star attraction.

Athletics:

Two Greek women athletes booked their places at the summer Beijing Olympics. Athanasia Tsoumeleka and Evangelia Xynou will take part in the 20km walk. Tsoumeleka, who won the gold medal in this event four years ago, clocked a time of 1 hour, 30 minutes and 21 seconds.

Thessaloniki has been chosen to host the 2009 IAAF World Athletics Final. The stadium has a capacity of 28,000 and was revamped for use in the Olympics in 2004.

Model Car Racing:

The 2008 European Championship of Radio Controlled 1/8 Buggy Models will be held July 1 to 5 at the track in Karteros.

Handball:

The Greek National Handball team will face Spain, the 2005 World Champions, in the play-offs for next year’s World Championship in Croatia. The first games will be played on June 7 and 8 and the return leg will be one week later.

Snooker:

Ronnie O’Sullivan (England), also known as “The Rocket,” has regained the number one position in the official World Ranking to go with his World Snooker Championship title. He became only the third player to lift the World trophy three times after beating Ali Carter (England) 18-8

Greece’s Second Drug Scandal:

Top Greek swimmer Yiannis Drymonakos, a European record-holder in the men's 200m butterfly, has pulled out of all competitions after testing positive for a banned steroid. It’s Greece’s second drug scandal after 11 weightlifters recently tested positive for steroids. The government has promised to clamp down on doping in sports.   

Sport to watch in June

Tennis: June 23 to July 6. All England Championship from Wimbledon.

Formula One:  June 6 to 8. Canadian Grand Prix, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal;

June 20 to 22. French Grand Prix, Magny-Cours.

Golf: June 12 to 15. U.S. Open from Torrey Pines Golf Course, San Diego.

Euro 2008 finals - Greek matches:

June 10 - v Sweden; June 14 - v Russia; June 18 v Spain.