Author: Athanasios Koutoupas

Greek Movie Ouzeri Tsitsanis in Shanghai International Film Festival

As part of the 19th Shanghai International Film Festival, held on June 11-19, 2016, the Greek movie Ouzeri Tsitsanis by Manousos Manousakis was selected for the Spectrum section, which keeps track of global cinema screenings. On the evening of June 13, at Cathay Theatre, the Chinese audience (together with members of the local Greek community) had the opportunity to watch the movie and take part in a post-screening discussion with the director.

Based on a book under the same title by Giorgos Skampardonis, the film takes place in Thessaloniki, Greece in 1942-43. The city is under German occupation. A love story between a Christian and a Jew, forbidden in these times, is used to describe the brutality and irrationality of racial discrimination. Ouzeri Tsitsanis, a taverna the composer Vasilis Tsitsanis runs, provides refuge to the couple and is a source of hope for people. It is also the place where Tsitsanis composes some of his well known songs. The Chinese title of the movie, “fuyun biri” (浮云蔽日), literally means “floating clouds cover the sun” but was translated as “Cloudy Sunday,” probably to reflect the English meaning of the famous Greek song Sinnefiasmeni Kiriaki.

Mr. Manousakis pointed out that both Greece and China have long history and this brings them together. He was curious to see if the movie touched the Chinese, since its topic is not part of their history. Members of the audience asked the director what was his source of inspiration, if it was difficult to find funding due to the Greek economic crisis and what his impression of Shanghai was, among other questions.

This was the second Greek movie in the festival, which also hosted the film Invisible by Dimitris Athanitis.

(world.greekreporter.com)

July 11, 2016
Egyptian volleyball team promises better results at Rio 2016

After a disappointing performance at the FIVB World League competition, the Egyptian men’s volleyball team has promised better results at the Rio 2016 Olympics next month.

The team won four matches and lost five in the competition. However, Sherif El-Shemerly and team captain Hossam Abdallah promised to do better moving forward, saying the team was not in its best shape at the World League.

According to Kingfut, the coach stated that three factors contributed to the team’s poor performance.

“First, Ahmed Afifi, who is a very important player, got injured. Second, our best player did not show his best in Korea. Third, four important players did not participate in this game,” said El-Shemerly. “We have only four weeks to prepare for the Rio Olympic Games. Although this is not enough time to solve the problems, we will decrease errors.”

Egypt qualified to the World League among the top 24 teams in the 2015 World League, in which Egypt placed 21st. The team started off with a promising win against the Czech Republic, followed by a loss versus Canada, a win against China, then a defeat from Finland.

Egypt also defeated Japan and Turkey, but lost its last three games to the Netherlands, South Korea and Czech Republic. This set Egypt in seventh place out of the 12 teams in Group 2, which was not enough for a spot in the finals that will include the top three teams in the group along with the host country.

Still, the Egyptian players left the competition on a good note, with three of them among the top 20 scorers out of 137 players in Group 2. Ahmed El-Kotb is currently not only the highest scoring player in Group 2 but in the entire league, with 188 points. Additionally, Captain Hossam Abdallah is the second best server in Group 2, fourth in the competition. He is also the fifth best setter in his group, while Ahmed Abdelaal is the third best digger.

As number 17 in the world and winner of seven African Championships, Egypt is the second highest-ranking African country after Tunisia, which is only one place ahead. Tunisia represented Africa in the World League alongside Egypt, while Qatar was one of seven Asian countries participating.

Qatar and Tunisia both competed in Group 3, where they ranked sixth and eighth, respectively. When the teams met, Qatar won 3-1.

Egypt booked its ticket to the Rio 2016 Olympic volleyball event after beating Tunisia in the final of the men’s African Qualification Tournament that took place in Congo. Tunisia gave another shot at an Olympic berth in the second World Qualifier in Mexico, but failed to seize it after finishing in third place. Nevertheless, the Tunisians are eight-time African champions and have participated in six volleyball Olympic events.

The Egyptians are hoping to improve their performance in Rio 2016.

“Congratulations to the Czech Republic. I think we played a full five-set match with Korea yesterday and the players felt tired. That is why we could not play well today,” said Abdullah, following the defeat against Czech Republic. “We are going to recover and show a good performance at the Rio Olympic Games.”

Egypt will play against Poland on Aug. 7, Cuba on Aug. 10, Russia on the Aug. 11, Iran on Aug. 13 and Argentina on Aug. 15. It will proceed to the quarter finals if it ranks in the top four out of the six teams in its pool. This will be Egypt’s fifth Olympic volleyball participation, with a best finish of tenth place in Los Angeles 1984, when Tunisia ranked ninth.

On the other hand, Qatar will make its Olympic volleyball debut this year at the beach volleyball event, to which Tunisia and Egypt are heading as well.

(stepfeed.com)

July 11, 2016
Greece is European Champion in Deaf Women’s Basketball

Greece is the European Champion in Deaf Women’s Basketball after beating Lithuania 52-41 in the final that took place at Nick Galis Hall in Athens.

The team of coach Athina Zerva made it to the final easily and won the trophy with relatively equal ease. The score in the 10-minute periods went as follows: 14-13, 26-22, 37-30, 52-41.

Meanwhile the Greek Deaf Men’s Basketball team finished fifth after beating Poland 69-54 in the classification game.

(greece.greekreporter.com)

July 11, 2016
Tomb of Jesus to undergo restoration after Christian sects put aside religious rivalries

Longstanding religious rivalries have been put to one side as a team of experts begin work on restoring the church where Christians believe Jesus was buried.

Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian churches are responsible for maintaining separate sections of Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, with each protectively watching over their territory.

Although those who work and pray at the church usually do so in harmony, tensions have been known to rise in the past. In 2008 an argument between Greek Orthodox and Armenian monks resulted in a brawl.

However, the clergymen have now put aside their differences as the building is in dire need of repair. Last year, the Israeli police even shut down the building for a brief time after Israel’s Antiquities Authority declared it unsafe.

“We equally decided the required renovation was necessary to be done, so we agreed upon it,” said Reverend Samuel Aghoyan, the top Armenian official at the church.

Each denomination will contribute to the $3.3 million (£2.26 million) needed to fund the project, and Jordan’s King Abdullah will also make a personal donation.

Nine Greek experts, who have previously worked on the Acropolis and many Byzantine churches, have been enlisted for the task, which will reinforce and preserve the Edicule – the ancient chamber where the tomb is held.

Pilgrims and tourists will still be able to visit the site while the work – which is expected to take around a year – is undertaken.

Antonia Moropoulou, an architect at the National Technical University of Athens, which is supervising the renovation, said: “Nobody envies this responsibility and challenge. It is a challenge to work here in this ambient of an open monument visited by thousands of people daily.”

She said although the tomb is stable it requires urgent attention after years of exposure to environmental factors like water, humidity and candle smoke.

“The marble and stone slabs have developed, due to the stresses, some deformations,” she said, while “another solution is needed” for the iron cage around the Edicule, which can no longer withstand the stress.

The church is one of the world’s oldest – and holiest –shrines. It was built in 325 AD by Roman Emperor Constantine just meters from where Jesus is believed to have been crucified.

This structure was destroyed by Muslim Caliph al-Hakim in 1009, however it was restored in the 12th century by Crusaders.

In 1808 the Edicule was devastated in a fire, and the work to repair the damage in 1810 was the last undertaken at the Holy site.

Italian pilgrim Claudio Pardini said the restoration is “an important sign”, and shows all of the Christian churches are working together to preserve their faith’s traditions.

“It’s good to take care of our churches so that we can leave the next generations a sign, something to visit, because Christ isn’t an idea. He’s a story,” he said.

(www.independent.co.uk)

July 11, 2016