Successes for Cypriot sport and very good prospects for the future
The Minister of Education, Sports and Youth Mr. Prodromos Prodromou presented today at the Ministry a report on the work in the field of Sport for the five-year period 2018-2023.
Specifically, Mr Prodromou said: "A five-year rule of the President of the Republic Mr. Nicos Anastasiades is coming to an end and it is time to say with certainty that we have had a successful period for Cypriot sport.
We are here today, together with Mr. Andreas Michaelides, President of the Cyprus Sports Organisation, the main arm for the State's sports policy, as well as the Director General of the Organisation Mrs. Mary Charalambous Papamiliades, with the President of the Cyprus Olympic Committee Mr. George Chrysostomou, with whom we have come a long way in a short time and made great progress in supporting the proper functioning of the Committee and restoring state sponsorship to it. But also with the Advisor to the President of the Republic on Sports Issues, Mr. Phoebus Zacharias, as well as with the Director General of the Ministry, Mr. Neophytos Papadopoulos.
I would like, on the occasion of the completion of my term of office, to thank them for the role they played in the successful management of sports issues and the administration of sport and for the brilliant results we have had internationally.
I must admit here that it is very important for a Minister of Education, Sport and Youth (until recently also Culture) to know that he can rely on and trust the principles of sports administration, in the COA and the CIO. Given that there are constantly so many issues in the broad area of education, from Pre-Primary to Higher Education, as well as a major reform underway, as well as many related issues in this Ministry that has responsibilities for youth in general, one realizes how important it is to have good management and leadership in these two sports governance organizations.
But also the President's Advisor, Mr. Phoebus Zacharias, himself dedicated to sporting ideals, has volunteered to assist us on various issues and opportunities and has contributed greatly to the work of modernizing and unifying the legislative framework for sport now moving forward.
Suffice it to mention that during this five-year period, according to data from the Olympic Committee, Cyprus participated in more international multi-sport events, seventeen (17). With delegations that included the largest ever number of athletes, 648. This participation was accompanied by a record number of international successes for Cyprus.
Speaking in particular about the last three years that I have been in charge of the Ministry and the political responsibility for sport, I must note that despite the unexpected and so difficult test of the pandemic, our sport made progress and very important international successes were achieved. We have had very good attendance and distinctions, both at the last Olympic Games and at world, pan-European and other international competitions. Especially in 2022, when we came back after the pandemic, we gave our presence with very good results in several international events.
Of course, the 4th place with Pavlos Kontidis in the Tokyo Olympics stands out, as well as the presence of three other athletes in the top 10 (Andri Eleftheriou, George Achilleos and Marios Georgiou). It is also worth mentioning the 10 gold medals in the last two Commonwealth Games (25 in total) and the 9 gold medals in the two Mediterranean Games (22 in total). At the same time, our successes in the field of Paralympic sport were also very significant.
In total, in the last five years the Cypriot flag has been raised more than 140 times in international competitions. Our athletes have justified the statement that sport is a great ambassador of our country.
Speaking of sports governance, however, I must clarify something. Any successes, good results and practices are owed to the athletes themselves. As well as to the coaches and other professionals who surround and support them. No proper management could have had any results without the talent and virtues, the very effort, dedication and toil, and willpower of our athletes. This is clear. But at the same time, it is also clear that talent, virtues and efforts do not get the justice they deserve, if there is no proper support and care from the State.
It is for this reason that I thank today the presidents and the management of the COA and the CIO for their efforts and work. As well as to them and all their partners in the two organizations.
Today we can summarize the following:
Regarding the Cyprus Olympic Committee with the long tradition it has created and its contribution, I would like to note that we started from a very difficult situation. At one point not only the funding but also the very existence of the Commission was threatened. But we managed, in cooperation with the President and the members of the current Council, both to restore the proper functioning of the Commission and to consolidate it institutionally, but also to restore state sponsorship. So that the CEC was able to function profitably. With very good results in the last, difficult in terms of its conditions, Olympiad, but also successful participation in the Commonwealth Games and other competitions, as well as with clear and solid planning for the future.
Summing up its achievements, I could not fail to mention that in the last five years it has successfully ensured the participation of our country in 17 international sporting events, with results that compare favourably and show progress compared to previous performances.
The largest number of athletes, 648, participated in these missions abroad. For the first time, athletes from all the sports federations took part. The results at the Commonwealth Games and the Mediterranean Games, two of the most important events, where we participated with a large number of athletes, were the best ever.
The work on sports infrastructure carried out by the Cyprus Sports Organisation was large and very important. In brief:
- The completion of the construction of the new Limassol stadium, a project of historic importance that changed the sports scene in the capital city. A project under the supervision of the COA, but which was made possible thanks to the personal interest and care of the President of the Republic. With an expenditure of €40 million.
- In 2023, the major project of the Nicosia Olympic Swimming Pool, in which €6.5 million has been invested, will also be completed. While planning is progressing with a major expenditure of up to €10 million for the upgrade of the Spyros Kyprianou Sports Hall, which must be completed in time for our country to host a group of EuroBasket 2025, according to the decision of the International Federation.
- Rehabilitation and modernisation works of the athletics track at the GSP and the "Stelios Kyriakides" Stadium in Paphos, which have started with a budget of 1.8 million euros each. Similar works will be added for the athletics track at GIZ with a cost of €1.5 million planned. Total in excess of €5 million to have operational stadiums in an acceptable playing condition for international competitions. A much needed intervention, as we had reached a point where our country had only one stadium suitable for international athletics competitions.
In total, during this administration, the Government of President Nicos Anastasiades, through difficult times, despite the major constraints of a deep economic crisis that took over and the unprecedented pandemic, has invested €67.4 million in sports infrastructure across Cyprus. From Meneou to Rizokarpaso and from Paphos to Frenaros, in all cities and in dozens of places in the region, projects involving our clubs and federations or communities and municipal authorities, schools and even camps. While infrastructure and projects worth more than €14 million are underway.
Apart from infrastructure, alongside good practices and policies that have been continued and upgraded, such as the Sport for All Programme, for which €2.5 million has been allocated. 2.5 billion in 2021, the Support Plan for Young Champions in Individual Olympic Sports, the National Support Plan for Development Sports, I also note the innovation of the "New Design for Young Athletes with Perspectives". Created in 2022, it insightfully aims to provide financial incentives to young athletes who have not yet achieved performances that allow them to join high-performance plans, yet are athletes with potential and very high potential for significant sporting success.
With regard to executive planning and speaking more generally about sporting matters, I will note here that it remains as a legacy and obligation with the next administration, the continuation and completion of the work of modernization and the unification of sports legislation. The preparatory work has already begun and the COA is proceeding using expert consultants. While significant relevant exploration has also been done by the Advisor to the President of the Republic Mr. Phoebus Zacharias, who has given impetus to this issue. The project should be completed as soon as possible. It is necessary to have a modernised institutional framework adapted to today's and tomorrow's data and needs, but also a clear single frame of reference.
I personally even combine this development with the possible creation of a separate state structure for the governance of sport, a Deputy Ministry of Sport, for which we may come back - personally, I consider it absolutely necessary.
On the part of the Ministry, we have moved forward with some other plans and innovations that will undoubtedly contribute. For example:
- The initiative for the establishment of a comprehensive Authority and service for the control of banned substances in sport (anti-doping), along with a coherent and complete legislation in accordance with international standards and in consultation with WADA, a matter to which we will return in the coming days, once the legislative proposal we have prepared has been submitted for legislative drafting.
- I would also like to stress that after years, the Register of Gymnasts has been launched,
which was much needed.
- In addition, I note the holding of provincial and national athletics competitions for primary schools, as announced last Saturday and
- the securing of a Health Card by the Ministry for our sports students, which we will also come back to in the next period of time.
I therefore congratulate and thank our partners in both the COA and the COE, as well as, of course, all our athletes, professionals in the field of sport and the hundreds of people active in our federations. Even if they are formally part of another institutional framework, I cannot fail to underline the contribution of our teachers specialising in Physical Education, both in their established work for all children in schools and with the special contribution of our Sports Schools in Secondary Education. This is indeed a successful institution that deserves attention and possibly even to be expanded."
IP
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
