Greece is the word
A look at the issues behind Greece’s debt drama, plus corruption in the IPL.
Hello there,
The story of Greece’s debt and the actual debt itself have a lot in common … not least of all, the fact that they don’t go away easily.
So we’re devoting a good chunk of our broadcast this week to the ongoing debt drama that’s unfolding in Greece, and spilled over into the rest of the Eurozone.
But if only that’s where it stopped! Because global markets have all felt the pinch of this long drawn-out process, but more specifically the credit downgrades which so many markets and investors live by.
When Standard and Poor’s says “junk” – even though that’s actually not as bad as it sounds – almost everybody takes notice and it’s never with a pretty outcome.
So we’ll hear from the big political players, look at how it’s affecting the everyman in Athens with our correspondent Barnaby Philips, and analyse it all with Dimitris Yannopoulos from the Athens News.
Also looking at fraud in sport this week, because there have been two big stories in the last week which would make any sport fan wonder if it’s actually about the game any more.
The big one was obviously the IPL, India’s multi-billion dollar cricketing showpiece now into its third year. Only this year, the head of the whole thing has been suspended, following allegations of corruption and match fixing!
Not a good look, when some of the players are getting paid more for a few weeks of Twenty20 Cricket than they’d get playing for a few years in their home countries.
Plus there is a story close to my heart, given I used to live in Melbourne and had a soft spot for the local rugby league team. That team, the champion Melbourne Storm, has been found guilty of the most extraordinary case of fraud I think I’ve ever heard of in sport.
And the penalty is as harsh as anything that’s ever been handed down in Australia, probably the harshest. I personally can’t decide if it’s fair or not – maybe I’m biased! – but watch the show and you can make up your own mind.
And don’t forget to follow us on twitter too – the name to search for is @AJCountingCost.
Counting the Cost can be seen each week at the following times GMT: Friday: 1430, 2030; Saturday: 0430, 1230, 1900; Sunday: 0130, 1630; Monday: 0830; Tuesday: 0600.