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Olympic sailing champion Sofia Bekatorou arrives at the prosecutor's office in Athens, on Wednesday, Jan 20, 2021. Bekatorou, who won gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics, last week said the male official from the Hellenic Sailing Federation performed a “lewd act” after inviting her to his hotel room to discuss team preparations in 1998. Multiple claims by other female athletes of sexual misconduct from sporting administrators followed over the weekend. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Olympic champion's abuse claim triggers debate in Greece

Jan. 20, 2021 12:36 PM EST

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek Olympic sailing champion Sofia Bekatorou appeared before a public prosecutor in Athens Wednesday in relation to sexual assault accusations she made that have ignited a nationwide debate on misconduct and encouraged multiple victims to make their claims public. Bekatorou, who won...

Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou welcomes Olympic sailing champion Sofia Bekatorou, left, at the Presidential Palace in Athens, Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. Bekatorou has accused an unnamed sporting official of sexually assaulting her in 1998 during preparations for the Sydney Games. Bekatorou made the allegation Thursday Jan. 14, 2021 while speaking at an online event organized by the ministry of culture and sport. (Alkis Konstantinidis /Pool via AP)

Greek president backs Olympic champion after abuse claim

Jan. 18, 2021 11:14 AM EST

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's first female president met Olympic sailing champion Sofia Bekatorou on Monday to express her support for the athlete who publicly claimed she had been sexually assaulted 22 years ago by a senior sports official. Bekatorou, who won gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics, last week...

FILE - In this Saturday, Aug. 21, 2004 file photo, Greek 470 class skipper Sofia Bekatorou, displays her gold medal during the medal ceremony of the women's double-handed 470 dinghy sailing event at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Olympic sailing champion Sofia Bekatorou of Greece has accused an unnamed sporting official of sexually assaulting her in 1998 during preparations for the Sydney Games. Bekatorou made the allegation Thursday Jan. 14, 2021 while speaking at an online event organized by the ministry of culture and sport. (AP Photo/Herbert Knosowski, file)

Olympic sailing champ says she was assaulted by official

Jan. 15, 2021 2:15 PM EST

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Olympic sailing champion Sofia Bekatorou of Greece has accused an unnamed sporting official of sexually assaulting her in 1998 during preparations for the Sydney Games. Bekatorou, who won gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics, said the male official from the Hellenic Sailing Federation...

A boy wears masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as he looks at a holiday display on a mild day Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in a park in Lenexa, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

The Latest: Japan sharply tightens ban on foreign visitors

Dec. 26, 2020 9:01 PM EST

TOKYO — Japan’s government will temporarily ban entry of all nonresident foreign nationals as a precaution against a new and potentially more contagious coronavirus variant that has spread across Britain. The entry ban will start Monday and last through Jan. 31 for the time being, the Foreign...

Bulgaria to expel Russian diplomat suspected of spying

Dec. 18, 2020 12:46 PM EST

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgaria's foreign ministry said on Friday that a Russian diplomat had 72 hours to leave the country after prosecutors accused him of spying and gathering military information including the number of U.S. troops deployed to Bulgaria for military drills. Foreign Minister Ekaterina...

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