Οlympiacos vs Ivkovic Stars
The count down for the great fest began on Monday, August 28, with the Press Conference and the presentation of this big game.
Olympiacos is paying homage to Dusan Ivkovic and that's why on Wednesday, September 20, 2017, the last "performance" for 'Duda' will be played on the Peace and Friendship floor. Monday noon, August 28, a Press Conference was held at the Press Office of the Peace and Friendship Stadium with Christos Stavropoulos (General Director of Olympiacos BC), Dusan Ivkovic and Vassilis Spanoulis (Olympiacos' captain) being on the panel and practically opening the curtain for this great event.
CHRISTOS STAVROPOULOS (General Director of Olympiacos BC): «Today begins the count down for the final performance on courts of the great Dusan Ivkovic. We really proud that this last performance will be held at the SEF. In this gym, where Dusan Ivkovic the teacher, built the foundations for Olympiacos, so as to conquer the top of Europe in 1997 and 2012, two unique seasons for the Olympiacos team and European basketball in general. I don't think we need to be saying a lot about Dusan Ivkovic, his huge career speaks for itself, Olympiacos welcomed the coach's idea to play this game and everyone here in Olympiacos will be giving our best so that this game projects a great shine that will be accompanying the coach in the event that follows after a few days with his induction in the Hall of Fame. On my part, I would like to address a few details of the game. First of all, this is going to be the first official performance on the new Olympiacos team in front of its fans. The team will have a full roster and the fans will have the chance to see the team play. The game is held under the Euroleague auspice, the Ivkovic Stars team will be comprised of players that have played for Dusan Ivkovic, while many great stars and european basketball personas will be at the gym as well. Who exactly these are going to be, will be announced later on. Tickets will be on sale tomorrow, the largest part of them will be priced 5 to 10 euro, they are going to be sold on line and from the Germanos and Cosmote shops. Season tickets will not be valid for this game, because the coach wanted all the proceeds from the game to be awarded to charity. More details will be made public through a Press Release tomorrow. The game will be broadcast live by Cosmote TV, I would like to thank them for being by our side, they are preparing some very nice things for the game, which will also be broadcast abroad. On our part, we are expecting to see all of you at the gym on September 20 for this great game».
DUSAN IVKOVIC: «I'm happy to be here with you, it's a great honor and I wish to thank you for being here. We are only three weeks from the game. I would like to thank Olympiacos, the Presidents who agreed to organize this game. I can say that after all these years, so many basketball executives, so many fans and players, I'm lucky to have met all of them. My philosophy had been to never work for the same team twice, but I was vindicated when after 15 years I decided to come back to Olympiacos and I think of myself as an Olympiacos fan».
In regard to the game 'Duda' pointed out that "I'll try to make a team of players that will be of Euroleague level, I don't want to say NBA level, with players from Fenerbahce, CSKA, Efes and Serbian internationals. I think that most of them will come, they will do us the honor and this festive event will be as big and great as possible. I think that Olympiacos has the best fans and I ask them to come to the game that is for charity, and gather as much money as possible. Proceeds will go the "Chamogelo tou paidiou" in Greece and to a Belgrade hospital. I'm also expecting help from you, the Media, since we have had perfect collaboration all these years. I'll be constantly here from September 10 and on and I'll be at your disposal".
VASILIS SPANOULIS ( Olympiacos captain): «No matter what I tell about the coach is not enough. He's of invaluable worth, not only to Olympiacos but to european and world basketball in general. It's not only the titles he won, that's the least for me, the thing is he has made a lot of players, who weren't under his direction, would had never made it to being the players they are now. You are in awe just hearing the names of those players, they are legends of world basketball. I think myself lucky and proud to have played under his guidance and we all together succeeded in doing something very big for Olympiacos after 15 years. It's the least we could have done as Olympiacos for the coach, I believe the gym must be full, the game is for charity, it's going to be the first one for the season and the fans will have the chance to see us play and I think that everyone on their part should contribute into organizing an event worthy of the value and the name of the coach».