Greece, the previous host of the 2004 Olympics at Athens, competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, People's Republic of China. They were represented by the Hellenic Olympic Committee, which announced on July 28, 2008, the 156 Greek athletes to compete in Beijing, composed of 84 men and 72 women,[1] the largest Greek Olympic team ever excluding the home team of the Athens 2004 Olympics.[2] Greece took part in archery, athletics, basketball, boxing, canoeing, cycling, diving, gymnastics, judo, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, synchronized swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, beach volleyball, water polo, weightlifting and wrestling.
As the progenitor nation of the Olympic Games, and in keeping with tradition, Greece entered the Beijing National Stadium first during the opening ceremony, led by the judoka Ilias Iliadis, who won a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
The Greek team was originally awarded two silver and two bronze medals. In all four medal cases there was participation by athletes who were also medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens (in the case of groups, at least one of their members was a former medalist).
Alexandros Nikolaidis won a second Olympic silver medal, Vasileios Polymeros was second after his third place in Athens (along with Dimitrios Mougios), while the golden medalist of 2004 Sofia Bekatorou led the yngling class team to the third place. Hrysopiyi Devetzi was third, but eight years later (2016) she was disqualified by IAAF and the IOC and had her Olympic bronze medal annulled[3] due to stanozol use.
Greece will send archers to the Olympics for the third time, seeking the nation's first Olympic medal in the sport. Elpida Romantzi earned the country its first qualifying spot, in the women's competition, by placing 36th in the 2007 World Outdoor Target Championships.[4] Evangelia Psarra placed third at the European qualifying tournament, giving Greece a second spot in the women's individual competition.[5]
Greece qualified for the men's basketball tournament through the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men 2008.
The following is the Greece roster in the men's basketball tournament of the 2008 Summer Olympics.[6]
Greece qualified two boxers for the Olympic boxing tournament. Both qualified at the second European continental qualifying tournament.[7]
Qualification Legend: QS = Qualify to semi-final; QF = Qualify directly to final
Greece will have entries in the men's Keirin and team sprint.
Qualification Legend: FA=Final A (medal); FB=Final B (non-medal); FC=Final C (non-medal); FD=Final D (non-medal); FE=Final E (non-medal); FF=Final F (non-medal); SA/B=Semifinals A/B; SC/D=Semifinals C/D; SE/F=Semifinals E/F; QF=Quarterfinals; R=Repechage
M = Medal race; EL = Eliminated – did not advance into the medal race;
Greece has two teams in the women's Olympic beach volleyball tournament.
Greece participated in both the men's and the women's tournaments. The men's team finished in 7th place, while the women's team finished in 8th place.
The following is the Greek roster in the men's water polo tournament of the 2008 Summer Olympics.[8]
All times are China Standard Time (UTC+8).
The following is the Greek roster in the women's water polo tournament of the 2008 Summer Olympics.[9]
All times are China Standard Time (UTC+8).
11 competitors were banned after testing positive for drugs.[10]
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