In a surprising twist, the long-standing rivalry between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos took an unexpected turn as both teams issued identical statements on their websites around 8 PM on Wednesday (04.06.2025). The statements emphasized their commitment to peaceful and fair completion of the final games in the Basket League 2024-2025 championship. Despite mutual accusations, neither Dimitris Giannakopoulos nor the Angelopoulos brothers signed any joint declaration. Instead, they entrusted Deputy Minister of Sports Giannis Broutsis and Deputy Minister George Mylonakis to sign on their behalf. Meanwhile, tensions remain high following verbal attacks exchanged during negotiations. Greek diplomacy also faced challenges as Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis held lengthy discussions in Cairo regarding the recognition of the Orthodox status and property rights of the historic Monastery of St. Catherine in Sinai. While Egyptian courts have recognized it as a worship site, property rights remain unresolved. In unrelated news, a recent poll revealed that Government Spokesperson has entered the top five most popular ministers due to his reflective arguments and rhetorical ease.
Greek Basketball Rivalries and Political Diplomacy: A Complex Landscape
—