1997

Events

February

• February 26: 37 New Democracy MPs petition the Greek Parliament to release former dictator George Papadopoulos from jail because of ill health.

March

• March 21: Miltiades Ewert resigns as head of the New Democracy Party.
• March 22: Vouliagmeni win the European Cup-winners Cup in water polo by defeating Roma 7-6.

April

• April 3: The Greek Consulate in Argyrokastro is attacked by armed men.
• April 3: Aris defeat Tofas Bursa 88-70 to lift the Corac Cup.
• April 24: Olympiakos defeat Barcelona 73-58 and win the Euroleague.
• April 28: In Paralimni, Cyprus, Greek Foreign Minister, Theodoros Pangalos, becomes godfather to the daughter of Tasos Isaak who was clubbed to death by Turkish occupation forces in Derynia.

May

• May 1: The birth of Phantis
• May 25: Shipowner Costas Peratikos is killed in Piraeus by the Revolutionary Organisation 17 November.
• May 25: Aris Salonica are relegated to the Second Division for the first time in their history.
• May 25: Greek-Australian, Mark Philippoussis, records a personal best 229.0 km/h (142.3 mph) serve in a game against Albert Costa.

August

• August 2: Angelos Pavlakakis breaks the Greek record for the 100m with 10.11.

September

• September 5: Athens is awarded the 2004 Summer Olympics.
• September 30: PAOK eliminate Arsenal after a 1-1 draw in Highbury (first match 1-0 to PAOK).

October

• October 7: ENIC acquires ownership of AEK FC.
• October 20: Dimitris Saravakos plays his last game for Panathinaikos: a 4-1 victory over Athinaikos FC.
• October 25: Patra is ravaged by torrential rains and floods.

November

• November 18: The Hellenic Parliament approves the "Kapodistrias" law relating to municipalities and communities reforms.

December

• December 17: A Russian-built Yakovlev 42, belonging to Ukraine's Aerosweet airlines, crashed on Pieria mountains after losing its orientation and contact with ground control. All 70 people on board died. The destination of the airplane was Thessaloniki, Macedonia Airport.
• December 20: A Hellenic Air Force C-130 Hercules transport plane crashes while taking part in a search for a missing Ukrainian airliner that crashed three days earlier. All five crew members of the C-130 died.
• December 30: The second Eurostars basketball game is held in Tel Aviv. East (Karnisovas, Economou, Radja, Scott- coached by Dusan Ivkovic) beats West 129-107. Arturas Karnisovas is voted MVP

Deaths

January

• January 18: Paul Tsongas, Greek-American politician.

April

• April 30: Georgios Plytas, politician, Mayor of Athens

June

• June 1: George Livanos, shipowner.
• June 23: Giorgos Katsaros, composer.

August

• August 27: Sotiria Bellou, rebetiko singer.

September

• September 13: Giorgos Mitsibonas, footballer

October

• October 21: Yiannis Zigdis, politician.

December

• December 26: Cornelius Castoriadis, philosopher