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Greek sports law: sport and the state -

part 1

on Sunday, 01 April 2012. Posted in Regulation & GovenanceHits 53

Sport is a co!"ination o# p$ysical and !ental activities t$at is governed "y a set o# rulesor custo!s %it$ social, educational, entertaining and cultural di!ensions.1n Greece

sport is c$aracterised as a #unda!ental social rig$t "y t$e State and is protected at a

constitutional level.2'$is article %ill #ocus on t$e recognition o# sport as a #unda!entalrig$t in Greece. n part one o# t$is article t$e aut$or %ill e(a!ine t$e !ost i!portant

parts o# t$e Sports )a% in Greece *la% 225+1 -t$e la%/, e(a!ining $o% sport

institutions are structured in Greece, and $o% t$is e##ects t$e relations$ip "et%een t$e

stae$olders in sport.

'$e onstitutional recognition o# sport in Greece

Sport is protected directly "y t$e Gree onstitution Article 1 */ states t$at4 At$letics

s$all "e under t$e protection and t$e ulti!ate supervision o# t$e State6. t is clear t$at t$eGree State c$aracterises sport as a #unda!ental rig$t %it$ Article 1, re#erring to t$e

rig$t to education and t$e #reedo! o# arts and science. '$is rig$t is pri!arily ai!ed at

sport at an a!ateur level every citi7en $as t$e rig$t to participate in t$e sport o# $is

#avour and t$e State is o"liged to provide t$e! %it$ t$e necessary #acilities #or t$eirsporting activities. Additionally, t$e State is under t$e o"ligation to encourage people,

especially young people, to participate in sport "y organising speci#ic progra!s at all

educational levels. Article 1 *2/ cites t$at education is a "asic !ission o# t$e State, andt$e State s$all #ocus, a!ongst ot$er t$ings, on t$e p$ysical training o# t$e Grees.

'$e onstitution also esta"lis$es a social rig$t in t$at people are #ree to create sport

unions and associations, under t$e supervision o# t$e State. '$ere#ore, li!its can "e put

on t$at speci#ic rig$t "y t$e State. Ho%ever, t$e States supervision o# sports unions andassociations is pri!arily concerned %it$ pro#essional sport.

Article 1 */ o# t$e Gree onstitution e(pressly cites t$at t$e State s$all !ae grants

to and control all types o# at$letic associations, as speci#ied "y la%. '$e use o# grants in

http://www.lawinsport.com/category/regulatoryhttp://www.lawinsport.com/category/regulatory

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accordance %it$ t$e purpose o# t$e associations receiving t$e! s$all also "e speci#ied "y

la%6. '$ere is places a re8uire!ent on t$e State to #inance sports associations in order #or

t$e! to ac$ieve t$e purposes o# t$eir esta"lis$!ent. 9urt$er!ore, t$e la% deter!ines$o% t$ese grants are !ade t$is provision creates a special6 relations$ip "et%een t$e

State and t$e sport associations. '$e associations can use t$e grants given to t$e! "y t$e

State #or t$e purposes t$at t$ey decide, $o%ever, t$e State can control i# t$ose purposesare related to t$e general o":ectives o# t$e sports association. n t$at sense, sport

associations are autono!ous as institutions under a special #ra!e%or.

'$e la% 225+1 $as "een revised several ti!es. 3 '$e la% consists o# 1;0 Articles and

is divided into 5 parts %$ic$ deals %it$ t$e organi7ation o# sport at an a!ateur andpro#essional level, and t$e %ay t$at t$e State can control t$e associations according to t$e

onstitution and t$e co!petent aut$orities.

Sport at an a!ateur level

Articles 1

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at$letes is t$e participation in t$eir national tea!s %$en t$ey are ased to do so. Any

at$letes t$at re#use to participate in t$e national tea! %it$out any speci#ic reason can "e

"anned %it$ dis8uali#ication o# t$e national league.

Articles ;1

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Greek sports law: professional sport -part 2

on 9riday, 11 >ay 2012. Posted inorporate )a%, Regulation & GovenanceHits ;=

n t$e second part o# t$e t$is article t$e aut$or e(a!ines Articles 5

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co!pany and t$e restrictions o# t$is participation are cited in articles

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t$at $e+s$e is registered %it$in t$e o##icial registration period.3 All contracts or

agree!ents signed as a"ove are void t$e only e(ception is #or at$letes t$at $ave t$e #ree

player status. lu"s t$at $ave not #ul#illed t$eir ta( and insurance o"ligation cannot signany at$letes every contract or agree!ent signed is void and t$ere#ore t$e participation o#

t$ose at$letes in sports ga!es is illegal.

Articles 10=

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Anti

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years i# t$e at$lete supplied %$ic$ t$e su"stance is under 1= years old t$e sa!e

sentences apply #or t$e producers o# "anned su"stances. !prison!ent up to 2 years can

#ace an at$lete t$at uses one o# t$e illegal su"stances o# article 12=N.

onclusion

'$e Sports )a% provides a clear graduated set o# disciplinary sanction and cri!inal

sentences #or cri!es o# violence and doping in sport. Ho%ever, it $as "een clai!ed t$at

Sports )a% goes to #ar and is !aes t$e ad!inistration o# sport unnecessarily !oreco!plicate too !any co!!ittees and councils $ave "een esta"lis$ed on its provisions,

%it$ concerns "eing raised over t$eir co!petence, creating a !ore "ureaucratic sports

syste!.

'$e constitutional recognition o# sports is rare a!ong t$e constitutions o# !ost nation

states. t can "e argued t$at t$e protection given under article 1 */ o# t$e Gree

onstitution %as su##icient #or t$e State to protect and develop t$e sports culture %it$in

Greece. As it stands t$e Gree State $as tried to protect t$e values o# sport "y e(ertingcontrols o# all organisations and associations related to sports. t re!ains to "e seen i# t$is

encroac$!ent o# t$e sel#alatos, Scienti#ic Approac$ to Sports )a%6, Ant. J. Saoulas Pu"lis$ers,

At$ens