Vienna, 11/10/2012
The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organization (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), has noted an increased number of attacks against sports journalists in Greece.
On 4 October 2012, Antonis Kalkabouras, a reporter with Mega TV, was physically attacked by two individuals after a basketball game between Panathinaikos and Panionios in the Olympic Athletic Center of Athens. The reporter was hit in the head while walking towards his car in the parking lot. One of the attackers allegedly told him not to return to the stadium. Kalkabouras received medical help but he did not require hospitalisation.
On 7 October 2012, Chrysanthos Tsaltidis, a Thessaloniki -based reporter for the Libero sport radio had to interrupt the live broadcast of the soccer match Aris –Platanias because he was attacked by soccer fans. He was not injured and could restart broadcasting.
“I condemn all attacks against journalists and hope that the Greek police will find the perpetrators and bring them to justice, “said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic.