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It is with feelings of emotion that I am present among you today to honour the memory of our beloved Dinos Michaelides.
Allow me, before any other mention, to warmly congratulate the Cyprus Sports Organisation and the Cyprus Association of Olympic Games Participants, for taking the initiative to organise this literary memorial as a minimum token of appreciation for the great contribution of this distinguished personality.
A contribution which is reflected in the active involvement of Dinos Michaelides with a positive impact on the sporting, and not only, events of our country.
Dinos Michaelides, having a great love for sports, was involved in the field from a young age at the championship level, achieving great success in athletics, volleyball, basketball and football, both as an athlete of top clubs and as an international with the Cyprus and Greek national teams. Equally important was, at the same time, his activity as a gymnast and coach.
After the completion of his racing career, he continued his contribution as a sports agent serving in various administrative positions in the local and international area, leaving, through his suggestions, interventions and his writing, his strong stamp on the evolutionary progress of sport in our country.
With the completion of his racing career, he continued his contribution as a sports agent serving in various administrative positions in the local and international area, leaving, through his suggestions, interventions and his writing, his strong stamp on the evolutionary progress of sport in our country.
It is enough to note that this dedicated and valuable service to the sporting events of Cyprus, received numerous honors and awards. Among others, I note that in 1980 he received the highest sporting distinction of our country, the Award, for his outstanding action and in 2021 the Special Distinction for his career in sport, from the Cyprus Association of Sports Journalists. He was also honoured by the European Olympic Committee, the International Committee for the Mediterranean Games and the International Society of Olympic Historians, while he was a Fair Play Ambassador in 2007 and 2008.
Dinos Michaelides was, however, not only a great athlete. He was brought up with values and ideals and grew up with the desire to liberate our country from the English yoke. In this context, while still a student, he participated in the liberation struggle of 1955-59, distributing EOKA leaflets. While, he was present at the famous battle of the Severio Library on 26 January 1956, when the British colonialists attempted to violently suppress the uprising of the students of the Pancyprian Gymnasium.
Friends,
I will not go any further, since the speeches that follow in the context of the programme of the literary commemoration will highlight in detail every aspect of the multifaceted action and contribution of Dinos Michaelides.
His closing statement at the awards ceremony of the Cyprus Sportswriters Association in 2021, which honoured him for his long-standing and multifaceted contribution to sport, sums up the importance of sport in his life: "For me, he said, my whole life, professional and personal, has been dedicated to sport for about 60 years. It is a blessing from God more than anything else. We should all bear in mind that sport is the only way out."
It was precisely this conviction that he turned into a way of life, taking care to instil a love of sport in the most positive way possible in his hundreds of students, our young men and women. Most importantly, he instilled in them the importance of sport, excellence, fair play and the spirit of friendship.
This vision of Dinos Michaelides is in line with our will and strategic approach to promote, support and upgrade sport and through it the cultivation of characters and consciences with the principles and values of fair play.
Through our plans we aim, on the one hand, to cultivate these principles and values in young people as a means of building an environment of progress and prospects for a better society and, on the other hand, to effectively strengthen the multitude of our talented athletes.
And standing before you today, I would like to assure you of our full commitment and consistency in the implementation of these plans, as well as of our willingness to cooperate with all relevant bodies in order to continue the successes of our athletes.
Dear friends,
The Homeric phrase "Aien αριστεύειν ja υπείροχον empμεναι αλλων", which perfectly expresses the concept of excellence, accompanied the entire life of the late Dinos Michaelides. There is no excellence for a man, i.e. distinction and superiority over others, without his virtue, his moral and spiritual quality or his physical ability.
And Dinos Michaelides achieved a life of success. He distinguished himself as a great athlete and as a strong factor of sport in our country.
But he also distinguished himself as a person.
In this context, the highlighting and honouring of his many years of contribution is the best memorial but above all the best example and guide for the continuation of his own work, the value of which becomes more valuable with the passage of time.
A work which will be a beacon and guide in our own efforts to promote sport in our country.
IP
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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