The Effects of Three Memorandums in the Management of Greek Olympic and Athletic Sports Οrganizations

After the rapid growth that Greece has had since joining the Eurozone and the irresponsible lending of the Greek governments in the public sector without ensuring that the economic crisis emerged as a competitive one, they were unable to borrow to cover both the external debt and the budget deficit. So, they were forced to ask for help from the Eurogroup, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, signed from May 2010 until the 2015 three memoranda. The aim of this study was to describe the management characteristics of the Greek Olympic and athletic sports organizations during the three memoranda. The data were extracted from the GSS website and the annual sports federation funding, before the first, second and third memorandum. After the results, the analysis with descriptive statistics observed that; (i) Before and after the first memorandum there was a drastic cut in the SF’s funding up to 30 %, (ii) Between the first and the second memorandum the cut further decreased reached up to 95 % and (iii). Between the second and the third memorandum, the NF’s funding continued, by changing a smaller percentage.   It was concluded that the Olympic and athletic sports organizations during the memorandum years have been deprived the substantial amounts of the government funding and to continue to survive, they have to find other funding resources. Keywords: Sports organizations, management, Olympic sports organizations, memorandu

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF TRACK & FIELD INJURIES: A ONE YEAR EXPERIENCE IN ATHLETIC SCHOOLS

The purpose of this study was to record injuries in track & field events that were sustained by students who attended the athletic schools during a one-year period. From September 2009 to May 2010, the researchers observed 2045 students (883 males and 1163 females), who were participating in track and field events at the mentioned schools. During the study period 150 injuries were recorded, which accounted for 13.3% of all injuries sustained by students. Most of the injuries (34%) according to the diagnosis were sprains and strains and occurred during the months of February, December and January. A large percentage of the injuries (45.4%) were sustained by students who attended the Athletic Schools, which operated in the urban region. Students who attended the second class sustained more injuries than the other classes (first and third). Students who were practising or competing on a tartan playing surface were more likely to sustain an injury. Knee and ankle were the most frequent anatomical sites in which injuries (43.9%) occurred. Additionally, 80.0% of injuries occurred in students who were practising or competing in running events. No statistical differences were observed in all above mentioned parameters amongst male and female students. Physical education (P.E.) teachers should place more emphasis on prevention measures. These measures should include proper supervision of students during training, warming up and cooling down sessions with stretching techniques. By following these suggestions students will compete in a safe and healthy environment

Isokinetic Characteristics of Amateur Boxer Athletes

Aim: The kinetic chain of the punch of boxers is characterized by the contribution of the shoulder; however, the isokinetic muscle strength of shoulder’s rotators muscles has not been well studied so far, especially with regards to performance. Therefore, the aim of the present study was (a) to profile the isokinetic muscle strength of rotators of the glenohumeral joint, bilateral (BL), unilateral (UL) and functional ratios in amateur boxers, and (b) to examine the variation of these muscle strength characteristics by performance level.Methods: Forty male amateur Greek boxers from three division levels (elite, n = 22; second division, n = 11; and third division, n = 7), and 10 non-athletes (control group) were tested, using the isokinetic dynamometer Kin-ComTM in the scapular seated position under standard conditions. We examined (i) peak torque (PT) of internal (IR) and external (ER) rotators during concentric (CON) and eccentric (ECC) contractions at low (60°/s), medium (120°/s), and high speed (180°/s), (ii) BL, (iii) UL, and (iv) functional ratios of dominant (D) and non-dominant (ND) limbs.Results: Boxers were stronger than control group in IR and ER at all speeds, and D outscored ND limb (p < 0.05). Elite boxers were stronger than group B and C (p < 0.05); however, when peak torque was expressed in relative to body mass values, these differences were attenuated. The BL ratios for the men athletes were under 10% at 60 and 180°/s, the UL ratios were lower at 60 and higher at 180°/s and significant lower in the dominant limb at all speeds. The functional ratios of IR ECC / ER CON were higher between the control group at all speeds and the ER ECC/IR CON ratios were between 60 and 180°/s, and the two limbs with higher values at 180°/s.Conclusion: Boxers had the strongest dominant limb and their BL ratios were normal at all speeds except of 120°/s ECC. The UL ratios of ECC at 120 and 180°/s of ND were normal, and at the other speeds abnormal due to high IR. In addition, the functional ratios may be related to the kinetic chain of the punch, which in turn correlates with the contribution of ER of both limbs

Analysis of the perceived competencies of administrators in sport and fitness clubs and indoor sport facilities of municipalities sport organizations

The purpose of the present investigation was to identify the perceived competencies needed to manage the athletic facilities such as the indoor health & fitness clubs and indoor sport facilities of Young and Health Organisation of Greek Municipalities. The population of the study constituted 169 directors of the indoor health & fitness clubs and 232 directors of indoor sport facilities of Young and Health Organisation of Greek Municipalities from 13 Greek regions. The subjects answered in a questionnaire, that developed for the study purposes. The instrument posted to the study population and the response rate was 58%. For the data analysis it was used descriptive statistics, factor analysis and Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA). Factor analysis revealed 8 factors which where: «sport science» (12 questions), «event management», (12 questions), «computer skills» (8 questions), «management techniques» (13 questions), «communication-public relations» (8 questions), «facility management» (6 questions), «first aid-crisis management» (6 questions) and «governance» (5 questions). The Cronbach a of the questionnaire was 0.85. The five competencies that rated more by directors of the indoor health & fitness clubs were: «establishes eligibility guidelines for participants» (question 21), «establishes procedures reflecting fair treatment of staff and participants» (question 3), «prepares written documentation of protests», (question 45), «handles disciplinary action, accidents, game protests, and eligibility status reports», (question 33) and «supervises governing or appeals board», (question 14). -ix- The five competencies that rated higher by directors of indoor sport facilities were: «supervises governing or appeals board» (question 14), «prepares written documentation of protests» (question 45), «handles disciplinary action, accidents, game protests» and eligibility status reports» (question 33), «establishes eligibility guidelines or participants» (question 21) and «establishes procedures reflecting fair treatment of staff and participants» (question 3). The Multivariate Analysis of Variance between the groups revealed that: (a) there was a significant difference in the factors «sport science», «governance and «crisis management-accident prevention» in favνur of the directors of the indoor health & fitness clubs, b) there was a significant difference in the factors «event management», «management techniques» and «facility management». No differences were observed in the factors «computer utilization» and «media-public relations». The one way analysis of variance followed by Bonferroni method for multiple comparisons between mean values of factors and selective variables revealed that there were significant differences in the age, the education level, the kind of degree, the ears of employment, the incomes, the seminars and the directors who were members of the Greek center for sport law research, while did not observe significant differences in the family status, years of employment as directors, in the total numbers of workers, in the numbers of physical education teachers and trainers and in the physical education unions, that would be helped the directors with sport management info. It is concluded, that the «governance», «communication-public relation» and «computer skill»s were the competencies that needed by managers in order to administer the health & fitness clubs and indoor facilities of Young and Health Organisation of Greek Municipalities