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- Ελληνικά
It is with great pleasure and feelings of pride that I participate in today's event, the opening of the exhibition "The Road to Paris", organized by the Cyprus Olympic Committee in cooperation with the Embassy of France under the French Institute and under the coordination and curatorship of the Leventis Gallery and the Leventis Foundation, which supports the Olympic Committee. I cannot think of any activity in Cyprus that does not support the Leventis Foundation. And it is not the only one. I repeat, I cannot think of actions in Cyprus without the support of the Leventis Foundation. Mrs Papadopoulou, on behalf of the State over the years, thank you.
In anticipation, ladies and gentlemen, of the Olympic Games, in less than a month, the French President is organising a summit on the Middle East in Paris, to which our country will be invited. The exhibition that we are about to inaugurate is a unique opportunity to look back on the important events that have marked the long history of this great sporting event, the greatest sporting event in the world, always featuring great sportswomen and great athletes.
Before I say anything else, allow me once again to warmly congratulate the organisers, who, through their cooperation in the implementation of this initiative, for which we are all here today, give us the opportunity to relive moments associated with the Olympic Games and to witness less well-known, I would say, but equally important aspects of the Olympic Games.
The first section of the exhibition, coming from the French Olympic Committee - I am glad that the majority of the Cyprus Olympic Team that will participate are women - is dedicated to the women who have excelled in the Olympic Games and presents in detail the efforts that have marked this international sports scene. But if you like, this first section is also an opportunity for a reflection that will lead us to examine - it is important to take the messages from an exhibition - and to delve deeper into the daily struggle of women, as well as into the relationship and place of women in Olympism. A relationship that has been established through difficult, militant struggles and demands of the women's sports movement in general. You heard the reference made when the issue of women's participation in the Olympic Games was raised, efforts that resulted in the gradual conquest of women's rights, first for participation and then for equal treatment in Olympic events.
In the same context, ladies and gentlemen, the second section of the exhibition that we are inaugurating today, starting from the past and reaching up to the modern Olympic Games, highlights the participation and distinctions of Cypriot athletes.
These participations are all honourable for our country, for a small country that participates with thirteen athletes in the Olympic Games this year. Through the exhibition, in addition to the theme of high competitive effort, they also reveal the ethos and sportsmanship for which the representatives of our country have been distinguished and distinguished over time in these world-class games.
It is important to mention that the first time we had Cypriot participation, participation with the flag of the Republic of Cyprus, was in 1980 at the Moscow Olympics. Until then, Cypriot athletes participated under the flag of Greece. Most importantly, our athletes as a whole are role models. Those role models that inculcate in each of us, and especially in our young people, the high sporting ideals with which the Olympic Games have been associated throughout time, such as the values of fair play, fair play, equality, justice and mutual respect.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On the occasion of today's event, I would like to mention that involvement in sport, apart from championship and discrimination, is one of the most basic components, the most fundamental characteristics of a healthy society at all levels. And it is for this very reason that we seek, through targeted and very specific actions, to strengthen both the effort made by our athletes and the effort, which is important, to promote mass sport and lifelong exercise.
For these reasons we proceeded to adopt provisions which, on the one hand, guarantee the rights of our sportsmen and sportswomen and, on the other hand, aim to ensure their unimpeded commitment to their goals and aspirations.
And it was in the same context and through the same reasoning that we decided, in addition to the established sponsorship and other care in relation to the Olympic Games, that the State decided to allocate a further 350.000 for the purpose of preparing our athletes to achieve the objectives that would allow them to participate in the Olympic Games in Paris.
At the same time, noting -this is a fact that leaves no doubt and is an indication of the important work that is being done- the development of Cypriot sport in recent years, but also the abundance of young talent that our country has, we are also promoting the implementation of some other specific actions and strategies that will give further impetus to sport in general in our country.
- The implementation of actions that promote the use of our athletes as role models for our youth, as role models in our schools, for our students.
- The development of mass sport programmes.
- The inclusion, which I consider very important, in the curricula of the Ministry of Education of all levels of education, of the teaching of the principles and values of Olympism.
- The adoption of plans that promote - an issue we are here today, as there is also this aspect - gender equality, equal opportunities for sport and the inclusion of people with disabilities in sport. This is another dimension on which we as a state and organised groups must do more.
- Upgrading our sports infrastructure, which is another gap that exists in our country.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today with this special exhibition we are witnessing unique moments that have marked the Olympic Games over the years. The apt title of the exhibition "The Road to Paris" reflects the long and arduous journey that athletes around the world are called upon to follow. A path - in many cases - that is lonely, necessary, very demanding, in order to be able to establish themselves with distinctions and successes to crown their efforts.
As I mentioned a few days ago, during the event of the presentation of our athletes and the flag presentation organized by the Cyprus Olympic Committee, their qualification alone in this top event is enough to fill us with feelings of pride, with feelings of joy, with feelings of optimism.
I conclude by saying that we are all looking forward to this great event. We are looking forward to the participation, the distinctions of our athletes who will raise our country even higher, but also our sport. We wish everyone strength. We wish everyone success. We will be there to cheer them on, to support them, to support this effort. And I want to assure you that the State will continue to support sports in our country.
(NYAN/EP)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs to PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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