Greece wins European creditors’ approval to repay IMF early

Three weeks after issuing debt carrying a negative interest rate, Greece has won approval from its European creditors to repay part of its debts to the International Monetary Fund earlier than required, thus avoiding cumbersome interest payments.

Monday’s decision also spares Greece the obligation of having to make a massive early repayment to the Europeans too, whose loans carry lighter interest than the IMF ones.

Finance Minister Christos Staikouras said the decision would improve Greek debt sustainability and boost market confidence in the country which underwent a painful financial crisis in 2010.

Spyros Gianniotis to be inducted into International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 2020

The International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame announced on Saturday that Greek swimmer Spyros Gianniotis will be inducted into the Swimming Hall of Fame in 2020.

Gianniotis will become the second Greek swimmer to be a member of the Hall of Fame, after Jason Zirganos, who was honored back in 1971.

Gianniotis has competed in every Olympic Marathon event since 2008.

In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he came in 16th place. In the 2012 London Olympics, he finished in the 4th place, when he missed the bronze medal by only five seconds.

In 2016 during the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, he finished second, winning the silver medal.