Greece greeted 1898 pessimistically… Within a climate of confusion and a feeling of humiliation because of the disasters that had taken place, the Greek people felt they needed to blame somebody. Within this atmosphere of frustration an unsuccessful attempt was made against the King's life in February of 1898. In sport, insufficient state interest- to an extent justified by the negative political climate - did not allow for the creation of the necessary institutional framework which would have allowed SEAGS to expand its activities. From 1897 to 1900, and even later, SEAGS and the Hellenic Olympic Committee were inextricably linked as far as personnel was concerned.

SEGAS's logo (1949)

Despite the fact that the first Sotiria Games were postponed for 1899 and the tenure of the Board of Directors was extended, three local Games took place; in Smyrna, Cyprus and the Ethnikos Athletic Club's internal games for juniors and youth. These events bolstered the ailing athletic movement. Local games, of no particular interest and whose results were not important, also took place in other Greek cities. Given, however, that according to SEAGS's charter these few Games were unofficial, there were no changes in the record book.

I. Fokianos during the Games of the 4^th Zappeian Olympiad with his students

1899 began with a memorandum which SEAGS sent to the athletic associations inviting them to a General Assembly to take place on 11 January of the same year. During this meeting, besides dealing with issues on the agenda, elections were also held for a new Board of Directors. Amongst other things, it was decided to hold yearly Games in Patra but this never came to pass because of SEAGS's financial difficulties. Athletic events in 1899 included the meet organised by the Cycling Club of Athens from 21 March to 11 April, to which Panellinios lent its technical support, and the 1^st Sotiria Games, which had been postponed for a year, on 14 May.