The Greek athletic federation SEGAS announced Wednesday that they will suspend all sporting activity within the country due to the state's "unfair and selective cuts in funding." In a statement SEGAS called on the sports leadership and particularly Culture Minister Pavlos Geroulanos who is in charge of sports in the country "to intervene and prevent the economic collapse and dissolution of the structure of athletics."
"The federation will in the next few days reconsider its position to further escalate or de-escalate its decision, depending on the progress that has been made on this major problem," the announcement said. SEGAS president Vasilis Sevastis has scheduled a press conference for Thursday to explain the decision by the federation. The move by the federation cancels all track and field activities in the country and does not affect international competitions. The federation has said that its budget from the state had been cut by a third last year and the same is expected this year.