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- Ελληνικά
It is an honour to be here today in Agros, representing the President of the Republic Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, at the 37th International Annual Road Race in memory of Nearchos Clerides.
Nearchos Clerides, late teacher, writer and folklorist, dedicated his life to the service of literature and the preservation of the cultural heritage of our country. Born in 1892 in Agros, he managed, despite the difficulties and difficult conditions in his life, to fulfil his dream of becoming a teacher - a profession he served with dedication and social action until his retirement. At the same time, and especially after his retirement, he devoted himself to research, study and writing, publishing folklore material that he collected for decades from every corner of Cyprus, from churches, libraries, from conversations with residents in village cafes, from folk songs, folk tales, customs and traditions, from legends and local stories. His work is a treasure of Cypriot folklore and fiction as well as of ecclesiastical tradition and monasticism - a valuable cultural heritage that he bequeathed to us, without himself having asked for or obtained a material return. He lived frugally "n the company of the pen that enriched him greatly", as he says.
Nearchos Clerides, as a true eupatrid, considered it his duty and obligation to contribute to the place, as he characteristically states in his text in the study 'Contribution to the history of Pitsilia':
55 years ago, in a poor peasant hut, among the wild mountains of Pitsilia, which circle the Agros, I saw the light of our blue sky, and felt the first pulses of life. I grew up. The materialistic conceptions of life did not attract me, for I found its spiritual and moral pleasures incomparably superior. That is why I have no material wealth to give to my hometown. Everyone gives away what he has. And I donate to my homeland the lines of this book, believing that with them I am repaying a certain debt to the place that gave me life, that nurtured me and brought me up. And it is for me a sweet joy and pleasure that I have been able to repay this duty.
As a State, we have our own duty to pay due tribute to intellectual men like Nearchos Clerides. A minimum recognition of his great contribution is today's road race co-organized by the Agros Community Council and the "Pericles Demetriou" Runners Association.
The "Pericles Demetriou" Association, with 37 years of life, fully serves its goal of "sport in the service of man", which goal has been realized since its foundation in 1987 by amateur runners and sports enthusiasts.
The "Pericles Demetriou" Association, with 37 years of life, fully serves its goal of "sport in the service of man", which goal has been realized since its foundation in 1987 by amateur runners and sports enthusiasts. The name of the Association is a tribute to the unforgettable marathon runner Pericles Demetriou, an athlete who was distinguished for his idealism, his athletic career, his philanthropy and the integrity of his character. Pericles Demetriou was born in 1914 in Kallepia, Paphos. From an early age he was involved in sports, initially in football. In Nicosia, where he settled in 1929, he worked in various jobs, mainly as a cafeteria worker, while in the evenings he trained alone. He participated in many races and achieved important distinctions such as the international marathon road race in Munich, finishing 4th, 2nd and 3rd in 1983, 1984 and 1985, respectively, at the age of 69-71. Apart from athletics, he was involved in cycling, swimming, boxing and mountaineering.
Today, the "Pericles Demetriou" Runners' Association continues his work, honouring his memory. Among its objectives, the promotion of running as a means of sport and health, and the dissemination of sport in a wider context. With a long-standing presence at sporting, social and national events, the Association encourages sport for all by organising running races, seminars and training camps, as well as recreational events such as excursions and dances. It participates in charity events and activities of other bodies and cooperates closely with the sports authorities.
Moreover, the role of Clubs and other associations that have a say in sporting events and the role of Local Authorities is vital to our goal of upgrading and strengthening sport, since by joining forces we can achieve it.
The Government and the President of the Republic himself, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, places sport high on its priorities, recognizing the importance of sport in the education and development of young people. The combination of sport and culture, the diptych of education and sport, is the message of today's race in memory of the scholar Nearchos Clerides, of whom we are rightly proud.
In conclusion, I would like to express my warm congratulations to the Agros Community Council and the Pericles Demetriou Association for the organization, as well as to the runners who participated.
(ASP)
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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