Marathon 2011

[Perdiccas]

Hmm, I feared this might happen ever since the big new of Greece's financial problems came out. But there's not much to do except waiting then.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Well, even if the Greek government were to still allocate the funds, I wonder what sort of reaction there would be in the countries who
support Greece financially. I understand there has been pressure for them to stump up their entire debt in one sum....?

[Perdiccas]

So our deadline is approaching and I wonder if there are any news? Although I don't have much hope...

[Kineas]

Khairete,
It is with great sadness that I announce that the Greek Ministry of Culture has declined to support the Marathon event. Their spokesman didn't give a precise reason, but seemed genuinely sorry and added that in the current economic mess it was impossible to get any business done in the ministry at all.

Just in Toronto, we probably put four hundred hours into this project. It's a defeat, and I apologize for raising your hopes. Stephanos and Giannis were right--it couldn't be done. Sigh.

Despite this, there are a great many excellent hoplite impressions out there in the world and we ought to get together in Greece for an event. We ill be switching our efforts for fund-raising and travel to Nemea and Stephanos's event, and I look forward to a precis from Stephanos with hard dates at the first possible opportunity.
The only good news is that we MAY have built some ground work towards Thermopylae, Artemesium, and Plataea in 2019 and 2020.

Your friend,
Christian

[Robert Vermaat]

in the current economic mess it was impossible to get any business done in the ministry at all.

Don't feel it as a defeat. Under the current circumstances, and the bad economic shape parts of Europe (and especially Greece) are in, it would have been a miracle. Nobody could have seen this coming when you all started this. Maybe in 5 years time. Not now, unless you find a very wealthy benefactor.

[Dan D'Silva]

My sympathies, Mr. Cameron. And nonetheless thank you for all your work on behalf of the rest of us.

[Perdiccas]

Too bad, but it's hardly a surprise at this time. Nonetheless thank you for your hard work!

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

Too bad. The ministry of culture is the one they cut more funds from than any other in Greece. So bad. And one(them) has to think that culture is the only thing greece can really export!
Khairete
Giannis

[Tettix]

Quite a shame this didn't work out. I spent a semester abroad in Athens this last fall, and this would have been a hell of an excuse to go back - provided I had gotten a kit together by then! Congratulations to all of you on the work you put in trying to make it happen.

[Ifikrates]

I do not usually intervene in the RAT forum because of my poor English, but I would like to report that if our greek fellows intend to organize on their own some type of Marathon commemorative event in 2011, despite the lack of support government due to the economic crisis, some of us (maybe 10 or 12) would be ready to go from Spain to Greece on our own. Just need the permission to camp at the site of the event or accommodation in any sports hall or indoor facility.
Greetings to all

www.atheneapromakhos.org

[Kineas]

Well, I'm with you.

[ouragos]

The Hoplite Association would be interested as well - most of us are too old to wait for the 5,000th anniversary!

[Kineas]

At a minimum (sorry, but airfare from Canada is going to hurt!) we could get 4-5 hoplites. Maybe more.

There are camp grounds all over Marathon, most on the Beach--even if the site wouldn't accept us, we could hire a whole campground for ourselves.

I had pretty much planned to go even if it was by myself or just with Giannis and Stefanos, so I like this fall-back plan.

[Kineas]

If we're taking charge of our own destiny, so to speak, how do you want to do it? We need a site to camp, and it would be NICE to have the approval of the Ministry and use of the Marathon sites--the Tumulus of the Athenians, the Plataeans, and the Trophy. right?

In addition, I'd like to get to spend the night guarding the Acropolis, and my guys, if we go, will want to tour Plataea, too.

So--even with no money involved (except our own) we'll need a place to camp, some Government permissions, and insurance for a weekend.

We need a date--ASAP--so people who have to buy airline tickets can plan vacations. If we choose a date and it is firm, I can get Aliki to rent us a campground and we can divide the cost. I could cover something like that.

Can we pick a date? Among the people on this list?

[Perdiccas]

I dont't know if anyone from our group is willing to come down there, the costs to get our equipment there are steep. I'll ask them anyway.