Document Date: 31 Jul. 1996
Posting Date:... 10 Oct. 1997
From the Macedonian Press Agency
"There is no one in Turkey who does not know and adore Yiannis Melissanidis," said the father of Murat Canbas, the Turkish gymnast who was killed in a car accident a few years ago.
Murat's father had every reason to be emotional as he watched on his TV set the Olympic Games ceremony where the Greek gymnast was awarded the gold medal. The two athletes were close friends and "it was like my child was on the podium getting the award."
Melissanidis, had handed over his medal to the Canbas family in 1994 [following the 29th World Gymnastics Championships in Brisbane, Australia April 19-24, 1994] in an unprecedented gesture of friendship and true sportsmanship.
[For this gesture, Yiannis Melissanidis received the Abdi Ipekci Peace and Friendship Award]