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 GREEK BOBSLEIGH TEAM FOUNDATION PO Box 597285 Chicago, IL 60659 GREEK BOBSLED TEAM QUALIFIES FOR THE SALT LAKE 2002 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES Team out of funds - Qualifies on credit cards and Olympic Dreams "We're going to the Games! "We're overwhelmed with excitement
- thrilled, grateful, overjoyed, and relieved. The team's pride and excitement for the upcoming games is what keeps has them going. Behind the scenes, though, it's been a real financial struggle. The team has sustained themselves on their Visa credit cards and the hospitality of a few. They have received no support from the Greek Olympic Committee, their car engine blew up while towing their sled and they are out of money. "Despite all of their struggles, I've heard nothing but enthusiasm from this team," said Patrick Brown, coach of the Greek team and former coach of the Jamaican 1988 Olympic Bobsled Team. "After Salt Lake, we'll be working for two years to pay off our debt. I don't know if we'll have a team after 2002. We have improved so much since 1993. It would be a real shame if we couldn't continue to grow our program. It's been a challenge. We as athletes have been responsible for paying and organizing all our training and coaching. We manage to raise some money, but the majority comes from our own pockets," Kambanis said. In 1993, while running track at Loyola University, Kambanis' coach received a letter indicating Greece was looking to put together a bobsled team. Kambanis tried out and made the team. In 1994, the Greek bobsleigh team participated in their first Olympic Winter Games. As the alternate, he completed the season, but did not get to compete in the Lillehammer Games. Four years later his Olympic dream came true as he participated as brakeman for both the 2-man and 4-man teams where Greece placed 30 out of 39 teams. After 1998, Kambanis began work at Accenture as a financial analyst. "Accenture has been very supportive. If it were not for Accenture's support I would not be bobsledding today," Kambanis said. The company approved a 12-month leave of absence so he could focus on competing and qualifying for the XIX Olympic Winter Games. Kambanis and Livaditis both grew up in Chicago. Kambanis attends St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago. He graduated from Notre Dame High School in Niles and Loyola University, Chicago where he competed in track and field and graduated with a business degree in finance. GREEK BOBSLEIGH TEAM FOUNDATION PO Box 597285 Chicago, IL 60659 Livaditis grew up attending St. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Glenview, IL. He attended New Trier High School and Michigan State where he competed in lacrosse. After John earned his degree in psychology, he moved to Denver, Colorado where he has worked in commercial real estate. In early 2000, he learned of the opportunity to represent Greece in bobsledding. His competitive nature propelled him to try out for the team and within 2 months he was in a bobsled. "I saw the opportunity and knew I'd regret it if I didn't try," Livaditis said. "I've been given an opportunity to represent my heritage - it's a real honor." Kambanis and Livaditis have created a
501C3 not-for-profit fund and are hoping for contributions. The pair encourages people to send a photograph with a donation. The photographs they receive will be sent to an artist who will create a collage to be displayed on their Olympic sled. The 2-man bobsled Olympic event will take place on the 16th and 17th of February in Park City, Utah. Please address all donations - Greek Bobsleigh Team Foundation - PO Box 597285 Chicago, IL 60659. Media Inquiries: |
