The IAAF has announced that the Athens "Super Grand Prix Tsiklitiria", Greece's premier annual athletics event, has been demoted to simply "Grand Prix" status for 2007 due primarily to poor attendance.

While some of the biggest names of track and field have participated in the event over the years, there was nothing "super" about its attendance, with the most recent meet attracting only 3000 spectators at Athens Olympic stadium, a venue that seats over 60000.

According to IAAF General Secretary Pierre Weiss, empty seats are not something the IAAF wants to see at one of its six Super Grand Prix events.

“We have to think of the image a spectator sees on television,” he said.

This news will surely not sit well with Minos Kyriakou, the president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and owner of the Panhelinios club that organizes the Tsiklitiria meet.

He just recently had indicated that the 2007 event would be an exceptional one and was considering a change of venue due to the poor attendance in Athens.

It should be noted that it was Mr. Kyriakou, also a member of the IAAF's administrative council, who stepped up and offered to organize the 2006 World Cup in Athletics after the IAAF was forced to reopen bidding for the event in late 2004, when Los Angeles backed out following a disagreement on the collection of withholding taxes on athlete prize money.

Greece was awarded the event in August, 2005, and had only one year to organize it. Despite the time constraint, the Athens World Cup was a major success and was well attended, with the IAAF recognizing and honoring the Greek contribution at this year's world athletics gala.

Mr. Kyriakou suffered a separate setback last March as well, when the Greek Culture Ministry’s Central Archaeological Council decided that Ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, could not host an athletics meet with 15,000 spectators - one strongly supported by Mr. Kyriakou - citing concerns about possible damage to the ruins. Greek and foreign archaeologists backed that decision, stating that it was vital to protect ancient sites and holding a meet there would clash with the atmosphere of Ancient Olympia.

Also this past week, reports surfaced that Mr. Kyriakou may not run for the IAAF presidency after all, although he has never officially offered his candidacy. It appears that the worldwide support current president Lamine Diack enjoys, as well as Mr. Kyriakou's well publicized less than favorable relations with SEGAS, may ultimately derail any plans to move forward with a potential candidacy.

In other news, the IAAF confirmed that the annual Helsinki Grand Prix will not be held in 2007, but that two USA meets, New York and Carson, as well as Rethymno, Greece, have asked to join the World Athletics Tour. Their status will be decided by the end of the year.

Chris Galakoutis